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, Thi Anh Xuan; 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. [10.1242/jcs.183137]

Characterization of prion protein function by focal neurite stimulation

Amin, L.;Nguyen, Thi Anh Xuan;Rolle, I. G.;D'Este, E.;Giachin, G.;Tran, T. H.;Legname, G.
2016-01-01

Abstract

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.
2016
129
20
3878
3891
10.1242/jcs.183137
http://jcs.biologists.org/content/129/20/3878
Amin, L.; Nguyen, Thi Anh Xuan; Rolle, I. G.; D'Este, E.; Giachin, G.; Tran, T. H.; Šerbec, V. Č.; Cojoc, D.; Legname, G.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/14861
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