title: The Caenorhabditis elegans microtubule minus-end binding homolog PTRN-1 stabilizes synapses and neurites.
abstract: Microtubule dynamics facilitate neurite growth and establish morphology, but the role of minus-end binding proteins in these processes is largely unexplored. CAMSAP homologs associate with microtubule minus-ends, and are important for the stability of epithelial cell adhesions. In this study, we report morphological defects in neurons and neuromuscular defects in mutants of the C. elegans CAMSAP, ptrn-1. Mechanosensory neurons initially extend wild-type neurites, and subsequently remodel by overextending neurites and retracting synaptic branches and presynaptic varicosities. This neuronal remodeling can be activated by mutations known to alter microtubules, and depends on a functioning DLK-1 MAP kinase pathway. We found that PTRN-1 localizes to both neurites and synapses, and our results suggest that alterations of microtubule structures caused by loss of PTRN-1 function activates a remodeling program leading to changes in neurite morphology. We propose a model whereby minus-end microtubule stabilization mediated by a functional PTRN-1 is necessary for morphological maintenance of neurons. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01637.001.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.
authors.forename: Jana Dorfman
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Marcette
authors.forename: Jessica Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nonet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048430:Cell Shape; D054351:Electrical Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005838:Genotype; D008124:Locomotion; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism*; D055550:Protein Stability
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C000599463:PTRN-1 protein, C elegans; C498050:DLK-1 protein, C elegans; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
keywords: DLK-1; PTRN-1; microtubule minus-end; neuron morphology; regeneration