Spectrin-actin interaction is required for neurite extension in NB 2a/dl neuroblastoma cells
✍ Scribed by R.K. Sihag; T.B. Shea; F.-S. Wang
- Book ID
- 102652192
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 906 KB
- Volume
- 44
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0360-4012
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
T.B. S .), Massachusetts
Spectrin is an actin-binding membrane skeleton protein involved in the maintenance of cell shape and generation of distinct membrane protein domains. Actin binds to the N-terminal domain of a-spectrin. To examine the function of spectrin-actin interaction in neurons, we sought to disrupt this interaction in differentiating NB 2a neuroblastoma cells by microinjecting an N-terminal domain-specific anti-P-spectrin antibody. We found that microinjection of the affinitypurified N-terminal domain-specific anti-a-spectrin inhibited the extension of the neurites in NB 2a/dl cells. The microinjected cells remained flat, and put out many filopodia-like processes; but these processes failed to extend when the cells were induced to differentiate in the presence of dbc AMP or in serum-free medium. The N-terminal domain-specific anti-a-spectrin also inhibited the binding of spectrin to actin. By contrast, the microinjection of monospecific anti-aspectrin, did not inhibit neurite extension. These results suggest that a-spectrin-actin interaction may be required for neurite extension, which is critical for development of polarity in nerve cells.