title: Microtubule-associated protein 1B: a neuronal binding partner for gigaxonin.
abstract: Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in GAN, is characterized cytopathologically by cytoskeletal abnormality. Based on its sequence, gigaxonin contains an NH2-terminal BTB domain followed by six kelch repeats, which are believed to be important for protein-protein interactions (Adams, J., R. Kelso, and L. Cooley. 2000. Trends Cell Biol. 10:17-24.). Here, we report the identification of a neuronal binding partner of gigaxonin. Results obtained from yeast two-hybrid screening, cotransfections, and coimmunoprecipitations demonstrate that gigaxonin binds directly to microtubule-associated protein (MAP)1B light chain (LC; MAP1B-LC), a protein involved in maintaining the integrity of cytoskeletal structures and promoting neuronal stability. Studies using double immunofluorescent microscopy and ultrastructural analysis revealed physiological colocalization of gigaxonin with MAP1B in neurons. Furthermore, in transfected cells the specific interaction of gigaxonin with MAP1B is shown to enhance the microtubule stability required for axonal transport over long distance. At least two different mutations identified in GAN patients (Bomont, P., L. Cavalier, F. Blondeau, C. Ben Hamida, S. Belal, M. Tazir, E. Demir, H. Topaloglu, R. Korinthenberg, B. Tuysuz, et al. 2000. Nat. Genet. 26:370-374.) lead to loss of gigaxonin-MAP1B-LC interaction. The devastating axonal degeneration and neuronal death found in GAN patients point to the importance of gigaxonin for neuronal survival. Our findings may provide important insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders related to cytoskeletal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Jianqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jia-Jia
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nardine
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020271:Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008870:Microtubules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C416508:GAN protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C085284:microtubule-associated protein 1B; D003078:Colchicine