SPAR2, a novel SPAR-related protein with GAP activity for Rap1 and Rap2

J Neurochem. 2008 Jan;104(1):187-201. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04991.x. Epub 2007 Oct 24.

Abstract

Spine-associated RapGAP 2 (SPAR2) is a novel GTPase activating protein (GAP) for the small GTPase Rap that shows significant sequence homology to SPAR, a synaptic RapGAP that was reported to regulate spine morphology in hippocampal neurons. SPAR2, like SPAR, interacts with the recently described synaptic scaffolding protein ProSAP-interacting protein (ProSAPiP), which in turn binds to the PDZ domain of ProSAP/Shank post-synaptic density proteins. In subcellular fractionation experiments, SPAR2 is enriched in synaptosomes and post-synaptic density fractions indicating that it is a synaptic protein. Furthermore, we could show using in vitro GAP assays that SPAR2 has GAP activity for Rap1 and Rap2. Expression in COS-7 cells, however, revealed different actin-binding properties of SPAR2 and SPAR. Additionally, over-expression of SPAR2 in cultured hippocampal neurons did not affect spine morphology as it was reported for SPAR. In situ hybridization studies also revealed a differential tissue distribution of SPAR and SPAR2 with SPAR2 transcripts being mainly expressed in cerebellar and hippocampal granule cells. Moreover, in the cerebellum SPAR2 is developmentally regulated with a peak of expression around the period of synapse formation. Our results imply that SPAR2 is a new RapGAP with specific functions in cerebellar and hippocampal granule cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • In Situ Hybridization / methods
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Transfection / methods
  • rap GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Sipa1l1 protein, rat
  • RAP2A protein, human
  • rap GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins