Homer蛋白的研究进展及法医学应用

Homer蛋白由Homer 1~3基因编码,属于新发现的突触后密度蛋白家族成员,其所有剪切变异体可分为长、短两种亚型,在调控兴奋性突触的结构和功能及细胞内信号转导中发挥关键作用。作为即早基因表达产物的短亚型Homer la,在癫痫、高频刺激及发育过程中可通过海马或皮层神经元的兴奋性突触活动,快速短暂地诱导其表达增加。大鼠弥漫性脑损伤后可诱导大脑皮层神经元Homer la表达动态上调。本文简述其结构、分布、功能、研究进展、存在问题及其在法医学上的应用。

Advancement in the study on Homer proteins and their applicability to forensic medicine

The Homer proteins,encoded by three genes(Homer 1～3),belong to one of the newly found postsynaptic density protein families,and several different splice variants of the Homer gene have been identified recently.This family is composed of two major groups,the short-form proteins and the long-form proteins.Homer proteins play a pivotal role in regulating the structure and function of excitatory synapses and cellular signal transduction.As an immediately early gene,Homer 1a is induced to be expressed transiently in neurons of the hippocampus and cortex by excitatory synaptic activity following seizure,high frequency stimulation,or during development.A diffuse traumatic brain injury can up-ragulate dynamically the Homer 1a gene expression in cortical neurons in rats.The paper summarizes the structure,distribution and function of Homer proteins,issues remained and advancements in research as well as its possible applicability in forensic medicine.