HDAC5AA but not HDAC5DAD regulate the expression of genes associated with axon growth

Expressing HDAC5 mutant whose serine 259 and 488 have been replaced by alanine (HDAC5AA) promotes optic nerve regeneration in retinal ganglion cells. However, expressing GFP, HDAC5WT and HDAC5DAD, whose serine 259 and 498 have been replaced by aspartic acid and serine 280 by alanine, do not promote optic nerve regeneration. The goal of this experiment was to determine the underlying mechanisms leading to the phenotypical differences in optic nerve regeneration between control GFP, HDAC5DAD, and HDAC5AA by analyzing the retinal transcriptome of the different treatments. GFP, HDAC5DAD, and HDAC5AA were overexpressed in C57B/6 mice retinal ganglion cells by intravitreally injecting adenoassociated virus (AAV2) containing the vector of expression for these genes. After two weeks, these animals received an optic nerve crush. On the 4th day post injury, mice were sacrificed and retinas were extracted for sequencing.