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Targeting SMN to Cajal bodies and nuclear gems during neuritogenesis

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Abstract

Neurite outgrowth is a central feature of neuronal differentiation. PC12 cells are a good model system for studying the peripheral nervous system and the outgrowth of neurites. In addition to the dramatic changes observed in the cytoplasm, neuronal differentiation is also accompanied by striking changes in nuclear morphology. The large and sustained increase in nuclear transcription during neuronal differentiation requires synthesis of a large number of factors involved in pre-mRNA processing. We show that the number and composition of the nuclear subdomains called Cajal bodies and gems changes during the course of N-ras-induced neuritogenesis in the PC12-derived cell line UR61. The Cajal bodies found in undifferentiated cells are largely devoid of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein product. As cells shift to a differentiated state, SMN is not only globally upregulated, but is progressively recruited to Cajal bodies. Additional SMN foci (also known as Gemini bodies, gems) can also be detected. Using dual-immunogold labeling electron microscopy and mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking the coilin protein, we show that gems clearly represent a distinct category of nuclear body.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the following institutions: Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Neurológicas (CIEN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Madrid, Spain); Dirección General de Investigacion of Spain (BFI2002-0454); the National Institutes of Health, USA (R01-NS41617 and R01-GM53034) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, USA (RG 3290).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biomedicine Unit, CSIC, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain

    Joaquin Navascues, Maria T. Berciano & Miguel Lafarga

  2. Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-4955, USA

    Karen E. Tucker & A. Gregory Matera

Authors
  1. Joaquin Navascues
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  2. Maria T. Berciano
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  3. Karen E. Tucker
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  4. Miguel Lafarga
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  5. A. Gregory Matera
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Miguel Lafarga or A. Gregory Matera.

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Navascues, J., Berciano, M.T., Tucker, K.E. et al. Targeting SMN to Cajal bodies and nuclear gems during neuritogenesis. Chromosoma 112, 398–409 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-004-0285-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-004-0285-5

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