The goal of this proposal is to investigate whether Mint proteins are physiological regulators of synaptic vesicle and amyloid precursor protein (APP) trafficking targeted to the active zone of the presynaptic terminal of neurons. Mint1 and Mint2 are brain-specific proteins and bind with high affinity to Munc18-1, a protein required for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. The unique structure of Mint composed of an N- terminal Munc18-1 binding domain, a middle phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domain and two C-terminal PDZ domains, thus suggests that it may play an essential role in targeting and docking reactions of synaptic vesicles prior to exocytosis. Of particular interest, Mint proteins also bind to APP, the parent protein for amyloid protein beta4, a major component in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Since it is not known how intracellular APP trafficking is regulated, investigating the role of Mint proteins is an important study to pursue. Therefore, the specific aims are: (1) to study the role of Mint domains by transfection of Mint deletion mutants in hippocampal neuronal cultures; (2) to study the function of Mints in mice by gene-inducible targeting using the Cre/lox recombination system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32AG005844-01
Application #
2862546
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-2 (01))
Program Officer
Oliver, Eugene J
Project Start
1999-10-02
Project End
Budget Start
1999-10-02
Budget End
2000-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Ho, Angela; Morishita, Wade; Atasoy, Deniz et al. (2006) Genetic analysis of Mint/X11 proteins: essential presynaptic functions of a neuronal adaptor protein family. J Neurosci 26:13089-101
Ho, Angela; Morishita, Wade; Hammer, Robert E et al. (2003) A role for Mints in transmitter release: Mint 1 knockout mice exhibit impaired GABAergic synaptic transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:1409-14