This proposal addresses the molecular control of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins by extracellular signals. The studies proposed here will focus on the regulation and function of the microtubule-associated protein MAP2, a multifunctional neuron-specific protein localized to dendrites. Previous studies under this project established that MAP2's phosphorylation state is regulated in situ by neural activity, especially via the neurotransmitter glutamate. Phosphorylation was shown to attenuate the binding of MAP2 to microtubules in vitro; however, effects on other MAP2 functions appear likely. The continuation of these studies is designed to advance our understanding of MAP2 function by performing detailed analyses of various MAP2 target interactions and their modulation by phosphorylation. Conditions for regulation of MAP2 phosphorylation via patterned synaptic activity will be examined in detail using rodent brain hippocampal slices. Phosphoepitope-specific antibodies will be used to examine the regulation of MAP2 in situ at defined sites, using slices or cultured neurons as model systems. The hypothesis that calcineurin plays an important role in MAP2 regulation will be tested using transgenic mice lacking the major neuronal isoform of calcineurin. Finally, the ability of MAP2 to interact with other molecules in vivo, including actin filaments and the cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase, will be explored using fluorescence microscopy. These studies are relevant to several disorders in which abnormal development or maintenance of neural structure is manifest, including mental health diseases such as schizophrenia, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and congenital disorders causing mental retardation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH050861-09
Application #
6186076
Study Section
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neurobiology Review Committee (MCDN)
Program Officer
Asanuma, Chiiko
Project Start
1994-02-01
Project End
2002-07-31
Budget Start
2000-08-01
Budget End
2001-07-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$237,780
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Sontag, Jean-Marie; Nunbhakdi-Craig, Viyada; White 3rd, Charles L et al. (2012) The protein phosphatase PP2A/B? binds to the microtubule-associated proteins Tau and MAP2 at a motif also recognized by the kinase Fyn: implications for tauopathies. J Biol Chem 287:14984-93
Dehmelt, Leif; Poplawski, Gunnar; Hwang, Eric et al. (2011) NeuriteQuant: an open source toolkit for high content screens of neuronal morphogenesis. BMC Neurosci 12:100
Malmendal, Anders; Halpain, Shelley; Chazin, Walter J (2003) Nascent structure in the kinase anchoring domain of microtubule-associated protein 2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 301:136-42