PSD-95 alters microtubule dynamics via an association with EB3

J Neurosci. 2011 Jan 19;31(3):1038-47. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1205-10.2011.

Abstract

Little is known about how the neuronal cytoskeleton is regulated when a dendrite decides whether to branch or not. Previously, we reported that postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) acts as a stop signal for dendrite branching. It is yet to be elucidated how PSD-95 affects the cytoskeleton and how this regulation relates to the dendritic arbor. Here, we show that the SH3 (src homology 3) domain of PSD-95 interacts with a proline-rich region within the microtubule end-binding protein EB3. Overexpression of PSD-95 or mutant EB3 results in a decreased lifetime of EB3 comets in dendrites. In line with these data, transfected rat neurons show that overexpression of PSD-95 results in less organized microtubules at dendritic branch points and decreased dendritogensis. The interaction between PSD-95 and EB3 elucidates a function for a novel region of EB3 and provides a new and important mechanism for the regulation of microtubules in determining dendritic morphology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendrites / metabolism
  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
  • Dlg4 protein, rat
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mapre3 protein, rat
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins