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Regulation of neuritogenesis and synaptic transmission by msec7‐1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, in cultured Aplysia neurons
Author(s) -
Huh Minjung,
Han JinHee,
Lim ChaeSeok,
Lee SeungHee,
Kim Seho,
Kim Eunjoon,
Kaang BongKiun
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01718.x
Subject(s) - aplysia , guanine nucleotide exchange factor , nucleotide , guanine , neurotransmission , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , neuroscience , chemistry , biochemistry , signal transduction , gene , receptor
msec7‐1, a mammalian homologue of yeast sec7p, is known as a GDP/GTP exchange factor (GEF) for the ADP ribosylation factor (ARF) family of small GTPases. Here, we report that msec7‐1 overexpression in cultured Aplysia neurons leads to an extensive neuritogenesis in a GEF activity‐dependent manner through the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Similarly, the overexpression of ARNO, another mammalin GEF, produces extensive neuritogenesis in Aplysia neurons. In addition, msec7‐1 overexpression increases the number of varicosities with an altered size and shape in a GEF activity‐dependent manner. The overexpression of msec7‐1 in pre‐synaptic sensory neurons co‐cultured with post‐synaptic target motor neurons leads to an increase in the amplitude of the excitatory post‐synaptic potential through its GEF activity. Our results demonstrate that msec7‐1 regulates neuritogenesis and synaptic transmission.