Cep215 is essential for morphological differentiation of astrocytes

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 12;10(1):17000. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72728-7.

Abstract

Cep215 (also known as Cdk5rap2) is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization. Cep215 is also placed at specific subcellular locations and organizes microtubules outside the centrosome. Here, we report that Cep215 is involved in morphological differentiation of astrocytes. Cep215 was specifically localized at the glial processes as well as centrosomes in developing astrocytes. Morphological differentiation of astrocytes was suppressed in the Cep215-deleted P19 cells and in the Cep215-depleted embryonic hippocampal culture. We confirm that the microtubule organizing function of Cep215 is critical for the glial process formation. However, Cep215 is not involved in the regulation of cell proliferation nor cell specification. Based on the results, we propose that Cep215 organizes microtubules for glial process formation during astrocyte differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / physiology*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Mice
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neuroglia / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics

Substances

  • CDK5RAP2 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering