R-Ras1 and R-Ras2 Expression in Anatomical Regions and Cell Types of the Central Nervous System

Since the optic nerve is one of the most myelinated tracts in the central nervous system (CNS), many myelin diseases affect the visual system. In this sense, our laboratory has recently reported that the GTPases R-Ras1 and R-Ras2 are essential for oligodendrocyte survival and maturation. Hypomyelination produced by the absence of one or both proteins triggers axonal degeneration and loss of visual and motor function. However, little is known about R-Ras specificity and other possible roles that they could play in the CNS. In this work, we describe how a lack of R-Ras1 and/or R-Ras2 could not be compensated by increased expression of the closely related R-Ras3 or classical Ras. We further studied R-Ras1 and R-Ras2 expression within different CNS anatomical regions, finding that both were more abundant in less-myelinated regions, suggesting their expression in non-oligodendroglial cells. Finally, using confocal immunostaining colocalization, we report for the first time that R-Ras2 is specifically expressed in neurons. Neither microglia nor astrocytes expressed R-Ras1 or R-Ras2. These results open a new avenue for the study of neuronal R-Ras2's contribution to the process of myelination.

Automated summary

The optic nerve, being highly myelinated, is susceptible to myelin diseases that affect the visual system. R-Ras1 and R-Ras2 have been identified as crucial for the survival and maturation of oligodendrocytes, and their absence leads to hypomyelination and loss of visual and motor function. Furthermore, R-Ras1 and R-Ras2 are found to be more abundant in less-myelinated areas of the central nervous system, and R-Ras2 is specifically expressed in neurons.