The cellular prion protein (PrPC), encoded by the PRNP gene, is a ubiquitous glycoprotein, which is highly expressed in the brain. This protein, mainly known for its role in neurodegenerative diseases, is involved in several physiological processes including neurite outgrowth. By using a novel focal stimulation technique, we explored the potential function of PrPC, in its soluble form, as a signaling molecule. Thus, soluble recombinant prion proteins (recPrP) encapsulated in micro-vesicles were released by photolysis near the hippocampal growth cones. Local stimulation of wild-type growth cones with full-length recPrP induced neurite outgrowth and rapid growth cone turning towards the source. This effect was shown to be concentration dependent. Notably, PrPC-knockout growth cones were insensitive to recPrP stimulation, but this property was rescued in PrPknockout growth cones expressing GFP-PrP. Taken together, our findings indicate that recPrP functions as a signaling molecule, and that its homophilic interaction with membrane-anchored PrPC might promote neurite outgrowth and facilitate growth cone guidance. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Characterization of prion protein function by focal neurite stimulation / Amin, L.; Nguyen, T.; Rolle, I. G.; D'Este, E.; Giachin, G.; Tran, T. H.; Šerbec, V. Č.; Cojoc, D.; Legname, G.. - In: JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0021-9533. - 129:20(2016), pp. 3878-3891.
Titolo: | Characterization of prion protein function by focal neurite stimulation |
Autori: | Amin, L.; Nguyen, T.; Rolle, I. G.; D'Este, E.; Giachin, G.; Tran, T. H.; Šerbec, V. Č.; Cojoc, D.; Legname, G. |
Rivista: | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2016 |
Volume: | 129 |
Fascicolo: | 20 |
Pagina iniziale: | 3878 |
Pagina finale: | 3891 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.183137 |
Fulltext via DOI: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.183137 |
URL: | http://jcs.biologists.org/content/129/20/3878 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Journal article |
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