Abstract
The central nervous system-specific serotonin receptor 2C (5HT2C) controls key physiological functions, such as food intake, anxiety, and motoneuron activity. Its deregulation is involved in depression, suicidal behavior, and spasticity, making it the target for antipsychotic drugs, appetite controlling substances, and possibly anti-spasm agents. Through alternative pre-mRNA splicing and RNA editing, the 5HT2C gene generates at least 33 mRNA isoforms encoding 25 proteins. The 5HT2C is a G-protein coupled receptor that signals through phospholipase C, influencing the expression of immediate/early genes like c-fos. Most 5HT2C isoforms show constitutive activity, i.e., signal without ligand binding. The constitutive activity of 5HT2C is decreased by pre-mRNA editing as well as alternative pre-mRNA splicing, which generates a truncated isoform that switches off 5HT2C receptor activity through heterodimerization; showing that RNA processing regulates the constitutive activity of the 5HT2C system. RNA processing events influencing the constitutive activity target exon Vb that forms a stable double stranded RNA structure with its downstream intron. This structure can be targeted by small molecules and oligonucleotides that change exon Vb alternative splicing and influence 5HT2C signaling in mouse models, leading to a reduction in food intake. Thus, the 5HT2C system is a candidate for RNA therapy in multiple models of CNS disorders.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2017
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-017-1826-3
Funding Information
The work was supported by the NIH (R21NS098186) and the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research.
Repository Citation
Stamm, Stefan; Gruber, Samuel B.; Rabchevsky, Alexander G.; and Emeson, Ronald B., "The Activity of the Serotonin Receptor 2C is Regulated by Alternative Splicing" (2017). Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications. 160.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/biochem_facpub/160
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Human Genetics, v. 136, issue 9, p. 1079-1091.
© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017
The copyright holder has granted the permission for posting the article here.
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Human Genetics. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-017-1826-3.