Transcriptional activity of REST was reduced by DYRK1A protein imbalance. A and B, EMSA showed that REST activity was perturbed by DYRK1A imbalance. N2a cells were transfected with pDYRK1A and psi-DY (A) or co-transfected with REST expression vector (B). EMSA was performed with IRDye 700-labeled consensus NRSE. Nuclear extracts were obtained from N2a cells transfected with pDYRK1A (lane 2), psi-DY (lane 3), or empty vector (lane 4). The specificity of REST-NRSE binding was indicated by competition by consensus NRSE oligonucleotides (lane 5) or NRSE mutant oligonucleotides (lane 6). C and D, N2a cells were transfected with DYRK1A expression vector pDYRK1A or knockdown vector psi-DY. Bdnf mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. β-Actin was amplified as the internal control. The values represent the means ± S.E. (n = 3). *, p < 0.001 by Student's t test. E, the BDNF promoter construct pBDNFluc was co-transfected with pDYRK1A or psi-DY. Luciferase assay was performed 24 h after transfection. The values represent the means ± S.E. (n = 3). *, p < 0.001 by Student's t test. F, the DYRK1A promoter construct pDYluc-A was co-transfected with pDYRK1A or psi-DY into N2a cells. Luciferase activity was measured at 24 h by a luminometer. The values represent the means ± S.E. (n = 4). *, p < 0.001 by Student's t test. Con, control.