title: Spontaneous morphological changes by overexpression of the growth-associated protein B-50/GAP-43 in a PC12 cell line.
abstract: In order to study the direct effects of B-50 on neural cell morphology, rat B-50 cDNA was transfected into a PC12 cell line (PC-B2) exhibiting neurite outgrowth independent of the expression of endogenous B-50. The morphological changes were visualized by confocal scanning laser microscopy using fluorescence labelling for B-50 and for F-actin. The transfected cells exhibited filopodia and/or blebs on the plasma membrane, containing most of the B-50 immunoreactivity. No spontaneous neurite outgrowth was observed. Following NGF treatment transfected and nontransfected PC-B2 cells extended F-actin positive filopodia and neurites with a striking colocalisation of B-50 and F-actin. Our data show that the presence of B-50 can influence cell surface morphology independent of the presence of NGF. The colocalisation of B-50 and F-actin in the filopodial protrusions but not in the blebs might be indicative for a role of B-50 in actin polymerization and depolymerization.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nielander
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Oestreicher
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gispen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schotman
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins