Investigating the Gene Expression of CaMKIIα Isoforms

Presenter: Keller Mark Dorgan

Faculty Sponsor: Margaret Stratton

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Session: Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM, Auditorium, A52

ABSTRACT

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) is a multimeric ser/thr kinase involved in learning and memory. Of its four domains (kinase, linker, regulatory segment, hub), the linker region most commonly undergoes alternative splicing, leading to different structural and functional outcomes, as well as varied Ca2+/calmodulin sensitivities. In this study, we seek to identify gene expression levels of the three CaMKIIα splice variants in various brain regions in both murine and human models in an attempt to determine localization of the proteins. We used RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) to detect CaMKIIα mRNA expression in sagittal and coronal murine brain sections. Brains were isolated from wildtype mice and sections were stained using variant-specific RNA-ISH probes that attached to exon junctions. Data was then analyzed using semi-quantitative methods. We also used available RNAseq data to analyze expression of the splice variants in human brain regions and murine cell types. It is suspected that CaMKIIα splice variants will show differential expression based on linker length, varying by both brain regions and cell types. These results will provide a lens into CaMKIIα gene expression and localization and allow for a deeper understanding of the linker region, providing insight into the function and roles of different splice variants.

RELATED ABSTRACTS