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F‐spondin promotes nerve precursor differentiation
Author(s) -
Schubert David,
Klar Avihu,
Park Minkyu,
Dargusch Richard,
Fischer Wolfgang H.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03563.x
Subject(s) - neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , progenitor cell , cellular differentiation , precursor cell , biology , secretion , nervous system , chemistry , cell , neuroscience , stem cell , biochemistry , in vitro , gene
Cells in the developing nervous system secrete a large number of proteins that regulate the migration and differentiation of their neighbors. It is shown here that a clonal central nervous system cell line secretes a protein that causes both a rat hippocampal progenitor cell line and primary cortical neural cells to differentiate into cells with the morphological and biochemical features of neurons. This protein was identified as F‐spondin. Analysis of F‐spondin isoforms secreted from transfected cells shows that the core protein without the thrombospondin type 1 repeats is sufficient to promote neuronal differentiation when adsorbed to a surface. F‐spondin can also inhibit neurite outgrowth while allowing the expression of nerve‐specific proteins when present in a soluble form at high concentrations. Therefore, F‐spondin can alter cell differentiation in multiple ways, depending upon its concentration and distribution between substrate‐attached and soluble forms.