Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses of MARCKS mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex of the macaque monkey.

Full Abstract

Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a major substrate for protein kinase C, and is involved in synaptic plasticity. Using both Northern blot and in situ hybridization techniques, we investigated whether MARCKS expression varied according to the cerebral region, including the hippocampal formation, or according to the type of neuron. Northern blot analysis showed that the MARCKS mRNA level was higher in the association areas than in the primary sensory and motor areas of the cerebral neocortex. MARCKS mRNA levels in the hippocampus and the amygdala were as high as those in the association areas. The in situ hybridization experiments confirmed the Northern blot results and showed the distribution and characteristics of MARCKS mRNA-positive neurons. In the association areas of the neocortex, prominent signals were observed in neurons in layers II-VI. In the primary areas, prominent signals were restricted to neurons in layers IV-VI. In the hippocampus, the most intense hybridization signals were observed in neurons in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. The observed region-specific expression might reflect functional specialization for plasticity in individual regions of the monkey cerebral cortex.

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Author information

Author/s: Higo, Noriyuki (N); Oishi, Takao (T); Yamashita, Akiko (A); Matsuda, Keiji (K); Hayashi, Motoharu (M);

Affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) (Cereb Cortex), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 12 (issue 5) : pp 552-64

Dates: Created 2002/04/12; Completed 2002/06/24; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11950773, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Blotting, Northern - methods; statistics & numerical data
Cerebral Cortex - chemistry; metabolism
Glucosidases
Hippocampus - chemistry; metabolism
Humans
In Situ Hybridization - methods; statistics & numerical data

Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Macaca fascicularis
Macaca mulatta
Membrane Proteins
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Phosphoproteins - analysis; biosynthesis
RNA, Messenger - analysis; biosynthesis

Associated Chemicals: Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (0) ; Membrane Proteins (0) ; PRKCSH protein, human (0) ; Phosphoproteins (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (125267-21-2) ; Glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.-)

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