Jose R Sotelo
Instituto de Investigaciones Biol�³gicas Clemente Estable, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Neurochem Neuropharm
The existence of RNA in axons now has been demonstrated after accumulation of abundant experimental evidence hardly to question. Much of the disputes turned now to the origin of these axonal RNAs. The neuronal soma as the source of most axonal RNAs has been demonstrated and is indisputable. However, the surrounding glial cells may be a supplemental source of axonal RNAs, a matter scarcely investigated in the literature. Here, we focus on studies addressing the origin of axonal RNAs and ribosomes and we review the few papers that have demonstrated that glial-to-axon RNA transfer is not only feasible, but likely. We describe this process in both invertebrate axons and vertebrate axons. Court and co-workers conclusively demonstrated that Schwann cell to axon ribosomes transfer exists. Moreover, Glia to axon RNA transfer has been demonstrated in Peripheral axons and from Oligodendroglia to central axons. Recently, mRNA transfer has been demonstrated in a more conclusive way. Regarding this, Ion Torrent massive sequencing of immunoprecipitated Bromo-uridine-mRNAs -Schwann cell synthesizedyielded hundreds of axonal mRNAs i.e., neurofilaments, ankirin, actin, etc. The intercellular transport of mRNA has interesting implications, particularly with respect to the integration of glial and axonal function. This evolving field will certainly impact in the understanding of the cell biology and physiopathology of the axon. Moreover, if axonal protein synthesis can be controlled by the interacting glia, the possibilities for clinical interventions in injury and neurodegeneration are greatly increased.
José R Sotelo was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. He began Medical School, but he never finished it, because after taking Basic Courses he understood his main interest was on Cell Biology research. He entered in the Biophysics Department of the I.I.B.C.E.1, where they were doing research in peripheral nerve regeneration, subject that he found very attractive and made him pursue years later a PhD on Cell Biology and Neuroscience. He published several papers dealing with axonal protein synthesis (APS). This controversial issue was really new at that time and they entered in a small group of international researchers that were opposing different point of view about. They got some clues supporting the reality of APS. After they published several publications the APS reality began to growth and to be accepted. He competed for different positions until he got the direction of hid own Research Department (Proteins and Nucleic Acids Dept.). He directed several Master and PhD students. He got financial support from National Agencies as well as International Agencies (Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Union, Iberoamerican Cooperation Agency (Spain), Organization of American States (OAS), Fogarty-NIH, USA). He co organized the International Institute of Collaborative Cell Biology & Biochemistry (IICCBB) with Dr. Cameron, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This School got the Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education (ASCB, 2012). He collaborated with Professors of different Universities of USA (Stanford, Virginia, MBL-Woods Hole, SUNY-Buffalo) and Europe (Federico II Naples, MBA, Plymouth, GB, Weizmann Inst. Israel).
Email: sotelotalibo@gmail.com
