title: WIP is a negative regulator of neuronal maturation and synaptic activity.
abstract: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) -interacting protein (WIP) is an actin-binding protein involved in the regulation of actin polymerization in cells, such as fibroblasts and lymphocytes. Despite its recognized function in non-neuronal cells, the role of WIP in the central nervous system has not been examined previously. We used WIP-deficient mice to examine WIP function both in vivo and in vitro. We report here that WIP(-)(/-) hippocampal neurons exhibit enlargement of somas as well as overgrowth of neuritic and dendritic branches that are more evident in early developmental stages. Dendritic arborization and synaptogenesis, which includes generation of postsynaptic dendritic spines, are actin-dependent processes that occur in parallel at later stages. WIP deficiency also increases the amplitude and frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, suggesting that WIP(-)(/-) neurons have more mature synapses than wild-type neurons. These findings reveal WIP as a previously unreported regulator of neuronal maturation and synaptic activity.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knafo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Banon-Rodriguez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merino-Serrais
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernaud-Espinosa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wandosell
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Anton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C491671:Waspip protein, mouse