Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, U.S.A.
Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, U.S.A.
Biosci Rep. 2022 Jul 29;42(7). doi: 10.1042/BSR20220497.
Rbfox1 is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that regulates alternative splicing, transcription, mRNA stability, and translation. Rbfox1 is an important regulator of gene networks involved in neurogenesis and neuronal function. Disruption of Rbfox function has been associated with several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. We have shown earlier that Rbfox1 is expressed in retinal ganglion and amacrine cells (ACs) and that its down-regulation in adult mouse retinas leads to deficiency of depth perception. In the present study, we used several markers of ACs, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), glycine transporter (GlyT1), and vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGlut3) to identify types of ACs that express Rbfox1. Expression of Rbfox1 was observed predominantly in GABAergic ACs located in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL). All GABAergic/cholinergic starburst ACs and virtually all NPY-positive GABAergic ACs were also Rbfox1-positive. Among glycinergic ACs, a sparse population of Rbfox1/VGlut3-positive cells was identified, indicating that Rbfox1 is expressed in a very small population of glycinergic ACs. These data contribute to our understanding about molecular differences between various types of amacrine cells and the cell-specific gene networks regulated by Rbfox1.
Rbfox1 是一种多功能 RNA 结合蛋白，可调节选择性剪接、转录、mRNA 稳定性和翻译。Rbfox1 是参与神经发生和神经元功能的基因网络的重要调节剂。Rbfox 功能的破坏与几种神经发育和神经精神疾病有关。我们之前已经表明，Rbfox1 在视网膜神经节和无长突细胞 (ACs) 中表达，其在成年小鼠视网膜中的下调导致深度感知缺失。在本研究中，我们使用了几种 ACs 的标志物，包括γ-氨基丁酸 (GABA)、胆碱乙酰转移酶 (ChAT)、神经肽 Y (NPY)、甘氨酸转运体 (GlyT1) 和囊泡谷氨酸转运体 3 (VGlut3)，以鉴定表达 Rbfox1 的 ACs 类型。Rbfox1 的表达主要观察到位于内核层 (INL) 和节细胞层 (GCL) 的 GABA 能 ACs 中。所有 GABA 能/胆碱能星爆 ACs 和几乎所有 NPY 阳性 GABA 能 ACs 也是 Rbfox1 阳性的。在甘氨酸能 ACs 中，鉴定出稀疏的 Rbfox1/VGlut3 阳性细胞群，表明 Rbfox1 在非常小的甘氨酸能 AC 群体中表达。这些数据有助于我们了解各种类型的无长突细胞之间的分子差异以及 Rbfox1 调节的细胞特异性基因网络。
