Application of in Utero Electroporation of G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Genes, for Subcellular Localization of Hardly Identifiable GPCR in Mouse Cerebral Cortex

摘要

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid growth factor that exerts diverse biological effects through its cognate receptors (LPA₁-LPA₆). LPA₁, which is predominantly expressed in the brain, plays a pivotal role in brain development. However, the role of LPA₁ in neuronal migration has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we delivered LPA₁ to mouse cerebral cortex using in utero electroporation. We demonstrated that neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex was not affected by the overexpression of LPA₁. Moreover, these results can be applied to the identification of the localization of LPA₁. The subcellular localization of LPA₁ was endogenously present in the perinuclear area, and overexpressed LPA₁ was located in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, LPA₁ in developing mouse cerebral cortex was mainly expressed in the ventricular zone and the cortical plate. In summary, the overexpression of LPA₁ did not affect neuronal migration, and the protein expression of LPA₁ was mainly located in the ventricular zone and cortical plate within the developing mouse cerebral cortex. These studies have provided information on the role of LPA₁ in brain development and on the technical advantages of in utero electroporation.