IMP2 Expression in the Mouse Nervous System

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) mRNA-binding protein-2 (IMP2) is one of the three homologues (IMP1-3) that play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in several tissues. IMP1/ZBP1 (zipcode binding protein) has been shown to play important roles in axon guidance and regeneration by regulating the localization and translation of specific mRNAs. However, the function of IMP2 is least understood, largely because an isoform-specific antibody was not available, which makes the conventional techniques to locate protein expression unfeasible. Using a custom made IMP2-specific antibody, IMP2 expression was examined in the brain, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion as well as the developmental patterns of the mouse by Western blot and immunostaining. It was found that IMP2 is expressed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and is developmentally expressed in all stages of life, unlike that of IMP1 and IMP3. Ongoing experiments are aimed at further understanding of IMP2 expression patterns during injury and assessment of its role to facilitate mRNA localization during axon regeneration in the adult nervous system.