title: Synaptic functions of the IQSEC family of ADP-ribosylation factor guanine nucleotide exchange factors.
abstract: Postsynaptic scaffolding proteins interact with numerous synaptic proteins to ensure the organization and specialization of functional excitatory and inhibitory synapses. IQSECs (IQ motif and SEC7 domain-containing proteins) are a class of ADP ribosylation factor-guanine nucleotide exchange factors (ARF-GEFs), whose functions are beginning to be understood as both scaffolding and signaling proteins. Specifically, IQSEC1 binds to PSD-95, and IQSEC2 functions as a regulator of AMPA receptor trafficking at excitatory synapses, whereas IQSEC3 interacts with gephyrin to promote inhibitory synapse development. Here, I review the currently known findings on IQSECs and discuss the possible relations between dysfunctions of IQSECs and the pathophysiology of brain disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and BK21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jiwonum@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Um
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D000072417:Protein Domains; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C073441:gephyrin
keywords: ARF; ARF-GEF; IQSECs; Synaptic formation; Synaptic transmission; XLID