The RhoA-associated protein Citron-N controls dendritic spine maintenance by interacting with spine-associated Golgi compartments.
Dendritic spines are highly dynamic protuberances that are thought to be crucial for learning and memory. Although it is well known that actin filaments and membrane dynamics regulate spine plasticity, how these two events are linked locally is less clear. Here, we provide evidence that Citron-N (CIT-N), a binding partner of the small GTPase RhoA, is associated with the actin filaments and Golgi compartments of dendritic spines. We also show that CIT-N is required for recruiting F-actin and Golgi membranes at spines of in vitro-grown neurons. Studies in knockout mice show that this protein is essential for the maturation of dendritic spines. We suggest that CIT-N might function as a scaffold protein in spine organization through its ability to bind to Golgi membranes and by affecting actin remodelling.
Camera
Paola
P
Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, Torino 10126, Italy.
Schubert
Vanessa
V
Pellegrino
Maurizio
M
Berto
Gaia
G
Vercelli
Alessandro
A
Muzzi
Patrizia
P
Hirsch
Emilio
E
Altruda
Fiorella
F
Dotti
Carlos G
CG
Di Cunto
Ferdinando
F
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D000199:Actins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C115635:citron-kinase; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases