Jl. Twiss et Em. Shooter, NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR PROMOTES NEURITE REGENERATION IN PC12 CELLS BY TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL, Journal of neurochemistry, 64(2), 1995, pp. 550-557
When PC12 cells are primed with nerve growth factor (NGF) for periods
of greater than or equal to 1 week, they acquire the ability to regene
rate neurites rapidly in response to NGF. It is not known how NGF prom
otes this regeneration, but it does not require ongoing RNA synthesis.
Previous studies have suggested that NGF directs the accumulation of
precursor molecules that are rapidly assembled to form the regenerated
neurites. To address the nature of these precursor molecules, we have
treated PC12 cells with macromolecular synthesis inhibitors during th
e priming and regeneration phases of neurite growth. Here we show that
NGF promotes neurite regeneration by inducing the synthesis of new pr
oteins. These proteins are encoded by short-lived mRNAs that are gener
ated during the NGF priming period. The isolation and identification o
f these mRNAs will allow a further understanding of how NGF promotes n
eurite regeneration.