The Distribution of Pur Alpha Protein in Rat Tissues, and Its Intracellular Location

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INTRODUCTION: Neural BC1 RNA is expressed by RNA polymerase III in rodent brain and is distributed in neuronal dendrites. We have recently reported that the single stranded DNA- and RNA-binding protein, pur alpha, which has been implicated in the control of DNA replication and transcription, is also involved in the process of BC1 RNA transport as well as in the brain-specific transcription of the BC1 RNA gene. Two distinct regions of the BC1 RNA gene are required for the transcriptional activation in vitro by pur alpha: one of them is assigned to the intragenic region of the DNA corresponding to the 5'-proximal region of BC1 RNA. This intragenic region also overlaps with the dendrite-targeting sequence of BC1 RNA and acts as a cis-RNA element in linking the BC1 RNA to microtubules (MTs) by a trans-acting factor, pur alpha. These observations suggest that in the cytoplasm of neurons the pur alpha mediates the BC1 RNA transport along dendritic MTs. Recently, we have also reported the association of pur alpha with polyribosomes via ribosomal subunits. These observations, together with our previous observations on BC1 RNA transport mentioned above, suggest that this transcriptional regulator may also play roles in the diverse aspects of post-transcriptional gene expression in the neuronal cytoplasm such as transport and translation of polyribosomes. In the present study, we have systematically examined the in vivo expression of pur alpha protein in a variety of cell types and tissues of rats by immunostaining. RESULTS: In all major tissues of the rat, the antibody against the whole pur alpha protein showed predominantly cytoplasmic staining. The most prominent staining was observed in neurons, irrespective of the tissues examined such as brains, spinal cords or other peripheral tissues. It was also noticed that the staining was asymmetric in the neuronal cells; signals were stronger in the brain region rich in dendritic arbors, but very weak in other regions rich in axon cables or glial cells. In the peripheral tissues, pur alpha protein was not detected in the apical side of epithelia but was concentrated to the basolateral side. This seems consistent with the observations that the protein is distributed in the somato-dendritic compartment of neuronal cells, and may be involved in the generation of polar structures of the cells.
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The Distribution of Pur Alpha Protein in Rat Tissues, and Its Intracellular Location

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