Premium
The role of CDK5 in non‐neuronal tissues
Author(s) -
Stevens Jessica Lee,
Aguanno Ann
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a992-b
Subject(s) - cyclin dependent kinase 5 , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , biology , kinase , protein kinase a , cyclin dependent kinase 2
We investigate the role of CDK5 in mammalian development. Although CDK5 belongs to a group of proteins involved in regulating the cell cycle, CDK5 itself has been shown to influence differentiation of non‐dividing nervous tissues. Our lab has used PC12 cells to study CDK5’s role in neuronal development. Experiments involving differentiating PC12 cells with NGF or FGF in the presence of a CDK5 inhibitor resulted in drastic morphological changes. We devised a quantification method that allowed rigorous comparison of our data. Here we extend our research by repeating our past experiments utilizing a different neuronal cell model, N2a, a murine neuroblastoma. We have also improved our quantification technique through acquisition of an updated digital microscopy system. This has allowed us to draw broader conclusions regarding the role of CDK5 in neuronal development, since our current results agree with previous data. Recently CDK5 has also been reported to play an extraneural role. Therefore we have explored the impact of CDK5 inhibition in two other cell lines that represent muscle and pancreatic tissues. Our data suggests that CDK5 plays a role in the development of these non‐neuronal tissues as well.