Hzf protein regulates dendritic localization and BDNF-induced translation of type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA
Iijima T., Imai T., Kimura Y., Bernstein A., Okano HJ., Yuzaki M., Okano H.
The localization of certain mRNAs to dendrites and their local translation in synaptic regions are proposed to be involved in certain aspects of synaptic plasticity. A cis -acting element within the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the targeted mRNAs, which is bound by a trans-acting RNA-binding protein, controls the dendritic mRNA localization. Here, we identified hematopoietic zinc finger (Hzf) as a trans-acting factor that regulates the dendritic mRNA localization of the type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP 3 RI), a dendritically localized mRNA in cerebellar Purkinje cells, via binding to the 3′ UTR. In Hzf -deficient mice, the dendritic localization of IP 3 RI mRNA and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced IP 3 RI protein synthesis in the cerebellum were impaired. These findings suggest that Hzf is an RNA-binding protein that controls the dendritic mRNA localization and activity-dependent translation of IP 3 RI, and may be involved in some aspects of synaptic plasticity.