title: Merlin inhibits neurite outgrowth in the CNS.
abstract: The neurofibromatosis type 2 gene product merlin is known to provoke gliogenic tumors as a result of its mutagenic loss. Merlin's physiological anti-mitogenic function makes it unique among its ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family members. Although ERM proteins and merlin are known to be expressed in glial cells of the peripheral nervous system and CNS, the neuronal expression pattern and function of merlin have been less well investigated. We report here expression of merlin in developing and mature neurons of the murine CNS. Within cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), merlin was localized in the soma, sprouting dendrites and axons. Merlin expression in PCs was high during the period of initial dendrite regression and declined during later phases of dendrite elongation. Consistently, merlin expression in vivo was increased in Engrailed-2-overexpressing PCs, which are characterized by a reduced dendritic extension. Furthermore, overexpression of merlin in dissociated cerebellar cultures and in neurogenic P19 cells caused a significant decline in neurite outgrowth, while, conversely, inhibition of merlin expression increased process formation. This effect was dependent on phosphorylation of serine 518 and involved the inactivation of the growth-promoting GTPase Rac. We thus provide evidence that merlin plays a pivotal role in controlling the neuronal wiring in the developing CNS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Katja J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: Sujeet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leichsenring
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Stephan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Baader
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D064026:Calbindins; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D025581:Neurofibromin 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D000099266:Engrailed 2 Protein
chemical_list: D000409:Alanine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D064026:Calbindins; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D025581:Neurofibromin 2; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D000099266:Engrailed 2 Protein; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein