PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN IN NEURONS - INDUCTION BY UV IRRADIATION

PROLIFERATING Cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays a pleiotropic role in DNA replication, excision repair of injured DNA and apoptosis. We foun d that PCNA protein is expressed predominantly in CA3 pyramidal neuron es in hippocampal slices cultured from 1-week-old rats. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that this PCNA expression is enhanced by u.v. irrad iation with no effect on neuronal viability. These results suggest tha t expression of PCNA in non-proliferating central neurones is associat ed with repair of injured DNA.