PLG regulates hnRNP-L expression in the rat striatum and pre-frontal cortex: identification by ddPCR
Journal Articles
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
Central dopaminergic systems are implicated in schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease, and are known to be modulated by the endogenous tripeptide Pro-Leu-Gly-NH(2) (PLG or MIF-1, melanocyte-stimulating hormone release inhibiting factor-1). Differential display polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was utilized to identify genes that are regulated by protracted PLG treatment (20 mg/kg, i.p. for 28 days) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of 2400 genes were screened and 3 down-regulated bands were identified in the PLG-treated samples. Sequencing analysis revealed a total of six unique cDNA species. One fragment possessed a high degree of homology with Mus musculus hnRNP-L (protein L) mRNA (GenBank #AB009392) (termed PRG1: PLG regulated gene 1). Elongation of the PRG1 cDNA, by RACE-PCR, provided an 835 bp sequence with 95% homology to AB009392 over a 743 bp span. Open reading frame analysis provided a putative amino acid sequence consistent with the identity of PRG1 as rat hnRNP-L. Northern hybridization experiments with PRG1 revealed a 2.3 kb mRNA species that was decreased by 65% in the PLG-treated tissue. Western blot analysis revealed significantly decreased hnRNP-L levels in the striatum and pre-frontal cortex (but not the nucleus accumbens) by 71 and 61%, respectively of PLG-treated animals. The identification of altered expression of hnRNP-L following PLG treatment provides insight into the long-term effects of PLG and may provide insight into its molecular mechanism of action.