Accumulating evidence suggests that the striosome-matrix systems have a tight link with motor and behavioral brain functions and their disorders. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a versatile protein kinase that plays a role in synaptic functions and cell survival in adult brain, and its kinase activity is stimulated by phosphorylation at tyrosine 15 residue (pY15). In this study, we used an immunohistochemical method to show differential localization of Cdk5-pY15 in the striatal compartments of adult mice, with a heightened density of Cdk5-pY15 labeling in the matrix relative to the striosomes. Our findings indicate that Cdk5-pY15 can be a new marker for the striatal matrix compartment, and suggest a possible involvement of Cdk5-mediated signaling in compartment-specific neurotransmission and disease pathology in the striatum.
Copyright © 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.