Conservation and expression of IQ-domain-containing calpacitin gene products (neuromodulin/GAP-43, neurogranin/RC3) in the adult and developing oscine song control system.

Full Abstract

Songbirds are appreciated for the insights they provide into regulated neural plasticity. Here, we describe the comparative analysis and brain expression of two gene sequences encoding probable regulators of synaptic plasticity in songbirds: neuromodulin (GAP-43) and neurogranin (RC3). Both are members of the calpacitin family and share a distinctive conserved core domain that mediates interactions between calcium, calmodulin, and protein kinase C signaling pathways. Comparative sequence analysis is consistent with known phylogenetic relationships, with songbirds most closely related to chicken and progressively more distant from mammals and fish. The C-terminus of neurogranin is different in birds and mammals, and antibodies to the protein reveal high expression in adult zebra finches in cerebellar Purkinje cells, which has not been observed in other species. RNAs for both proteins are generally abundant in the telencephalon yet markedly reduced in certain nuclei of the song control system in adult canaries and zebra finches: neuromodulin RNA is very low in RA and HVC (relative to the surrounding pallial areas), whereas neurogranin RNA is conspicuously low in Area X (relative to surrounding striatum). In both cases, this selective downregulation develops in the zebra finch during the juvenile song learning period, 25-45 days after hatching. These results suggest molecular parallels to the robust stability of the adult avian song control circuit.

Author information

Author/s: Clayton, David F (DF); George, Julia M (JM); Mello, Claudio V (CV); Siepka, Sandra M (SM);

Affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA. dclayton(-atsign-)uiuc.edu

Grants: DC02853 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS) ; NS051820 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS) ; NS25742 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Developmental neurobiology (Dev Neurobiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2009 Feb 1-15; vol 69 (issue 2-3) : pp 124-40

Dates: Created 2009/01/22; Completed 2009/04/15;

PMID: 19023859, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 4/15/2009, IMS Date: 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Age Factors
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Cloning, Molecular
Finches
GAP-43 Protein - chemistry; genetics; metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology

Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology
High Vocal Center - growth & development; metabolism
Intracellular Space - metabolism
Neurogranin - chemistry; genetics; metabolism
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
Sequence Analysis
Vocalization, Animal - physiology

Associated Chemicals: GAP-43 Protein (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; Neurogranin (132654-77-4)

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