title: Characterization of seipin/BSCL2, a protein associated with spastic paraplegia 17.
abstract: Seipin, which is encoded by the BSCL2 gene, is a glycoprotein of unknown biochemical function that is associated with dominant hereditary motor neuron diseases. Mutations in the N-glycosylation site of seipin are associated with the disease states and result in accumulation of unfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to the unfolded protein response (UPR) and cell death, suggesting that these diseases are tightly associated with ER stress. Here, we determined the subcellular localization, functional domains, and distribution of seipin in tissues. Our studies show that the transmembrane domains in seipin are critical for ER retention, ubiquitination, formation of inclusions, and activation of UPR. Using immunohistochemistry, seipin expression is detected in neurons in the spinal cord and in the frontal lobe cortex of the brain. The present study provides new insights into the biology of seipin protein that should help our understanding of the pathogenesis of seipin-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. d-ito@jk9.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Taishi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054875:Ubiquitination / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C432679:BSCL2 protein, human; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits