Characterization of the chicken transitin gene reveals a strong relationship to the nestin intermediate filament class

The Diversity of Intermediate Filaments in Astrocytes

Despite the remarkable complexity of the individual neuron and of neuronal circuits, it has been clear for quite a while that, in order to understand the functioning of the brain, the contribution of other cell types in the brain have to be accounted for. Among glial cells, astrocytes have multiple roles in orchestrating neuronal functions. Their communication with neurons by exchanging signaling molecules and removing molecules from extracellular space takes place at several levels and is governed by different cellular processes, supported by multiple cellular structures, including the cytoskeleton. Intermediate filaments in astrocytes are emerging as important integrators of cellular processes. Astrocytes express five types of intermediate filaments: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); vimentin; nestin; synemin; lamins. Variability, interactions with different cellular structures and the particular roles of individual intermediate filaments in astrocytes have been studied extensively in the case of GFAP and vimentin, but far less attention has been given to nestin, synemin and lamins. Similarly, the interplay between different types of cytoskeleton and the interaction between the cytoskeleton and membranous structures, which is mediated by cytolinker proteins, are understudied in astrocytes. The present review summarizes the basic properties of astrocytic intermediate filaments and of other cytoskeletal macromolecules, such as cytolinker proteins, and describes the current knowledge of their roles in normal physiological and pathological conditions.

Aggrecan is expressed by embryonic brain glia and regulates astrocyte development

Determination of the molecules that regulate astrocyte development has been hindered by the paucity of markers that identify astrocytic precursors in vivo. Here we report that the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan aggrecan both regulates astrocyte development and is expressed by embryonic glial precursors. During chick brain development, the onset of aggrecan expression precedes that of the astrocytic marker GFAP and is concomitant with detection of the early glial markers GLAST and glutamine synthetase. In co-expression studies, we established that aggrecan-rich cells contain the radial glial markers nestin, BLBP and GLAST and later in embryogenesis, the astroglial marker GFAP. Parallel in vitro studies showed that ventricular zone cultures, enriched in aggrecan-expressing cells, could be directed to a GFAP-positive fate in G5-supplemented differentiation media. Analysis of the chick aggrecan mutant nanomelia revealed marked increases in the expression of the astrocyte differentiation genes GFAP, GLAST and GS in the absence of extracellular aggrecan. These increases in astrocytic marker gene expression could not be accounted for by changes in precursor proliferation or cell death, suggesting that aggrecan regulates the rate of astrocyte differentiation. Taken together, these results indicate a major role for aggrecan in the control of glial cell maturation during brain development.

Molecular evolution of type VI intermediate filament proteins

BACKGROUND

Tanabin, transitin and nestin are type VI intermediate filament (IF) proteins that are developmentally regulated in frogs, birds and mammals, respectively. Tanabin is expressed in the growth cones of embryonic vertebrate neurons, whereas transitin and nestin are found in myogenic and neurogenic cells. Another type VI IF protein, synemin, is expressed in undifferentiated and mature muscle cells of birds and mammals. In addition to an IF-typical alpha-helical core domain, type VI IF proteins are characterized by a long C-terminal tail often containing distinct repeated motifs. The molecular evolution of type VI IF proteins remains poorly studied.

RESULTS

To examine the evolutionary history of type VI IF proteins, sequence comparisons, BLAST searches, synteny studies and phylogenic analyses were performed. This study provides new evidence that tanabin, transitin and nestin are indeed orthologous type VI IF proteins. It demonstrates that tanabin, transitin and nestin genes share intron positions and sequence identities, have a similar chromosomal context and display closely related positions in phylogenic analyses. Despite this homology, fast evolution rates of their C-terminal extremity have caused the appearance of repeated motifs with distinct biological activities. In particular, our in silico and in vitro analyses of their tail domain have shown that (avian) transitin, but not (mammalian) nestin, contains a repeat domain displaying nucleotide hydrolysis activity.

CONCLUSION

These analyses of the evolutionary history of the IF proteins fit with a model in which type VI IFs form a branch distinct from NF proteins and are composed of two major proteins: synemin and nestin orthologs. Rapid evolution of the C-terminal extremity of nestin orthologs could be responsible for their divergent functions.

Localization of transitin mRNA, a nestin-like intermediate filament family member, in chicken radial glia processes

We have examined the gene expression of two radial glia intermediate filament proteins, transitin and vimentin, in the developing chick CNS. Despite global similarities in their mRNA distributions, marked regional differences are observed. Most notably, we show that transitin mRNA is localized along radial glial processes and is localized to radial glia endfeet, whereas vimentin mRNA is not localized in radial glia. Localization of transitin mRNA is best shown in the diencephalic radial glia, as well as cerebellar Bergmann glia. In addition, in the early embryonic optic tectum, telencephalon, and retina, transitin mRNA is highly localized to radial glia endfeet, which is suggestive of its transport in these cells. These in vivo demonstrations of transitin mRNA localization are confirmed by in situ hybridization analysis of cultured chick brain radial glia, which demonstrates the presence of granular staining for transitin mRNA in glial processes. Transitin mRNA distribution in developing muscle also shows a highly regulated expression pattern, especially along the Z-lines of myofibrils. As further support for the transport and localization of transitin mRNA in radial glia and muscle, we have identified a consensus RNA transport signal in transitin mRNA that is absent from vimentin. These data suggest that the local regulation of transitin protein synthesis may contribute to its function as an intermediate filament protein in radial glia.