title: Shank 2 expression coincides with neuronal differentiation in the developing retina.
abstract: The retinal activity for vision requires a precise synaptic connectivity. Shank proteins at postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses play roles in signal transmission into the postsynaptic neuron. However, the correlation of Shank 2 expression with neuronal differentiation in the developing retina remains to be elucidated regardless of previous evidences of Shank 2 expression in retina. Herein, we demonstrated that with progression of development, Shank 2 is initially detected in the inner plexiform layer at P2, and then intensively detected in inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer, and ganglion cell layer at P14, which was closely colocalized to the neurofilament expression. Shank 2 was, however, not colocalized with glial fibrillary acidic protein. Shank 2 expression was increased in the differentiated retinoblastoma cells, which was mediated by ERK 1/2 activation. Moreover, Shank 2 expression was colocalized with neurofilament at the dendritic region of cells. In conclusion, our data suggests that Shank 2 is expressed in the neurons of the developing retina and could play a critical role in the neuronal differentiation of the developing retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kyu Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C488222:Shank2 protein, mouse; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases