Nogo-A couples with Apg-1 through interaction and co-ordinate expression under hypoxic and oxidative stress

Biochem J. 2013 Oct 15;455(2):217-27. doi: 10.1042/BJ20130579.

Abstract

Nogo-A is the largest isoform of the Nogo/RTN4 (reticulon 4) proteins and has been characterized as a major myelin-associated inhibitor of regenerative nerve growth in the adult CNS (central nervous system). Apart from the myelin sheath, Nogo-A is expressed at high levels in principal neurons of the CNS. The specificity of Nogo-A resides in its central domain, NiG. We identified Apg-1, a member of the stress-induced Hsp110 (heat-shock protein of 110 kDa) family, as a novel interactor of NiG/Nogo-A. The interaction is selective because Apg-1 interacts with Nogo-A/RTN4-A, but not with RTN1-A, the closest paralogue of Nogo-A. Conversely, Nogo-A binds to Apg-1, but not to Apg-2 or Hsp105, two other members of the Hsp110 family. We characterized the Nogo-A-Apg-1 interaction by affinity precipitation, co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay, using primary hippocampal neurons derived from Nogo-deficient mice. Under conditions of hypoxic and oxidative stress we found that Nogo-A and Apg-1 were tightly co-regulated in hippocampal neurons. Although both proteins were up-regulated under hypoxic conditions, their expression levels were reduced upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, we suggest that Nogo-A is closely involved in the neuronal response to hypoxic and oxidative stress, an observation that may be of relevance not only in stroke-induced ischaemia, but also in neuroblastoma formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Hypoxia / genetics
  • Cricetulus
  • Down-Regulation
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Myelin Proteins / genetics
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Oxidative Stress*

Substances

  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Osp94 protein, mouse
  • Rtn4 protein, mouse