Localization of the Diaphanous-related formin Daam1 to neuronal dendrites

Neurosci Lett. 2008 Dec 5;447(1):62-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.09.051. Epub 2008 Sep 25.

Abstract

The Rho family of small GTPase proteins are involved in the formation and maintenance of neuronal dendrites. In this study, we show that Daam1, a member of the Diaphanous-related formin protein family and a downstream effector for RhoA, is localized to the dendrites of hippocampal neurons. Immunoblot analysis showed that Daam1 is enriched in the mouse hippocampus and co-fractionates in brain lysates with dendritic and synaptic proteins. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Daam1 protein distributes in a punctate pattern throughout the cell body and dendritic shafts of dissociated hippocampal neurons and organotypic hippocampal cultures. Although Daam1 is mostly expressed in the shaft of dendrites, co-stainings with SV2 or PSD95 revealed that Daam1 is also present at some synapses. In addition, viral directed expression of a fluorescently tagged Daam1 fusion protein in hippocampal slices resulted in targeted delivery to the dendrites of pyramidal neurons, leading to a reduction in the density of spines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendrites / metabolism*
  • Dendrites / ultrastructure
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Guanylate Kinases
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Transfection
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dlg4 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Sv2a protein, mouse
  • Guanylate Kinases
  • Daam1 protein, mouse
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins