Control of dendrite arborization by an Ig family member, dendrite arborization and synapse maturation 1 (Dasm1).
Development of both dendrites and axons is important for the formation of neuronal circuits, because dendrites receive information and the axon is responsible for sending signals. In the past decade, extensive studies have revealed many molecules underlying axonal outgrowth and pathfinding. In contrast, much less is known about the molecular mechanisms that control dendrite development. Here we report the identification of an evolutionarily conserved Ig superfamily member, dendrite arborization and synapse maturation 1 (Dasm1), which plays a critical role in dendrite development. Dasm1 contains five Ig domains and two fibronectin III domains in the extracellular N terminus, a single transmembrane domain, and an intracellular C-terminal tail with a type I PDZ domain binding motif at the end. It is highly expressed in the brain and localized at the dendrites. Suppression of Dasm1 expression in hippocampal neurons via RNA interference or expression of Dasm1 without its cytoplasmic tail specifically impairs dendrite, but not axon, outgrowth. Together with its orthologues in other species, Dasm1 defines a family of molecules likely involved specifically in dendrite arborization.
Shi
Song-Hai
SH
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of California, 1550 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA 94143-0725, USA.
Cox
Daniel N
DN
Wang
Denan
D
Jan
Lily Yeh
LY
Jan
Yuh-Nung
YN
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D005353:Fibronectins; C486759:Igsf9 protein, mouse; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger