[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

Poster
231. Dendrite Growth and Branching: Signaling
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 231.23/B36
Topic: A.04.i. Dendritic growth and branching
Support: NJ Governor's Council on Autism Pilot Grant
NIH Training Grant T32MH/AG-19957
March of Dimes Foundation Grant 1-FY04-107 (to B.L.F.)
NSF Grant IBN-0234206
Title: A biochemical analysis of the interaction between cypin and microtubules
Authors: *E. SWEET 1 , M. L. PREVITERA 2 , B. L. FIRESTEIN 2 ;
1 Cell Biol. and Neurosci., 2 Mol. Biosci., Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ
Abstract: Cypin (cytosolic PSD-95 interactor) is a guanine deaminase that contains a CRMP
homology domain and is expressed in neurons. We previously reported that overexpression of
cypin protein increases dendrite branching in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons. In
addition, we have shown that cypin binds to tubulin heterodimers via cypin's CRMP homology
domain. We now show that cypin binds to tubulin heterodimers in at least a 2:1 ratio. Cypin also
binds to polymerized microtubules. Cypin's binding to tubulin heterodimers and polymerized
microtubules suggests that cypin increases microtubule polymerization by aiding in the addition
of tubulin to the + end of polymerizing microtubules. The addition of tubulin increases the Km
and Vmax of polymerizing microtubules, thus encouraging nascent outgrowths to grow into full
dendrites.
Disclosures: E. Sweet, None; M.L. Previtera, None; B.L. Firestein, None.
Poster
231. Dendrite Growth and Branching: Signaling
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 231.24/B37