Open AccessImaging Dynamic Molecular Signaling by the Cdc42 GTPase within the Developing CNS
Author(s) -
N. Sharifai,
Hasitha Samarajeewa,
Daichi Kamiyama,
Tzyy Chyn Deng,
Maria Boulina,
Akira Chiba
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0088870
Subject(s) - gtpase , cdc42 , context (archaeology) , biology , function (biology) , protein–protein interaction , computational biology , brain function , neuroscience , gtpase activating protein , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , g protein , paleontology
Protein interactions underlie the complexity of neuronal function. Potential interactions between specific proteins in the brain are predicted from assays based on genetic interaction and/or biochemistry. Genetic interaction reveals endogenous, but not necessarily direct, interactions between the proteins. Biochemistry-based assays, on the other hand, demonstrate direct interactions between proteins, but often outside their native environment or without a subcellular context. We aimed to achieve the best of both approaches by visualizing protein interaction directly within the brain of a live animal. Here, we show a proof-of-principle experiment in which the Cdc42 GTPase associates with its alleged partner WASp within neurons during the time and space that coincide with the newly developing CNS.