Interfering polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII/STX mRNA inhibits neurite growth during early hippocampal development

FEBS Lett. 2006 Aug 21;580(19):4723-6. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.07.058. Epub 2006 Jul 26.

Abstract

Polysialic acid (PSA) attached to NCAM is involved in cell-cell interactions participating in structural and functional plasticity of neuronal circuits. Two polysialyltransferases, ST8SiaII/STX and ST8SiaIV/PST, polysialylate NCAM. We previously suggested that ST8SiaII/STX is the key enzyme for polysialylation in hippocampus. Here, polysialyltransferase mRNA interference experiments showed that, knock down of ST8SiaIV/PST transcripts did not affect PSA expression, but PSA was almost absent from neuronal surfaces when ST8SiaII/STX mRNA was interfered. Non-polysialylated neurons bore a similar number of neurites per cell than polysialylated neurons. However, non-polysialylated processes were shorter and a lower density of synaptophysin clusters accompanied this reduced neuritic growth. Therefore, ST8SiaII/STX expression is essential to allow a correct neuritic development at initial stages of hippocampus ontogeny.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Hippocampus / growth & development*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Neurites*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sialyltransferases / genetics*
  • Synaptophysin / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Synaptophysin
  • CMP-N-acetylneuraminate-poly-alpha-2,8-sialosyl sialyltransferase
  • Sialyltransferases