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Functional Analysis in C.elegans of Lunapark (LNP): A Putative Evolutionarily Gene Involved in Neurogenesis (subside MHV).

Applicant Gomez Marie Isabel
Number 69263
Funding scheme Marie Heim-Voegtlin grants
Research institution Département de Génétique et Evolution Faculté des Sciences Université de Genève
Institution of higher education University of Geneva - GE
Main discipline Zoology
Start/End 01.10.2004 - 30.09.2006
Approved amount 217'075.00
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Keywords (4)

C. ELEGANS; LUNAPARK; PUTATIVE GENE INVOLVED IN; NEUROGENESIS

Lay Summary (English)

Lead
Lay summary
The control of vesicle-mediated transport in the nerve cell is an important aspect of synapse function, development and maintenance.
Ubiquitination process regulates neurotransmission by mediating receptor internalization and degradation via the endoycytic pathway, thus controlling the the abundance of postsynaptic receptors. It is likely that this mechanism will also prove instrumental in the regulation of presynaptic protein level, as suggested by a small, but increasing number of studies. In this paper, we describe a new C. elegans gene, Ce-lnp, and present data supporting its involvement in synaptic function using two lnp mutants lnp(tm1247) and lnp(tm733). We show that LNP is possibly acting through synaptic vesicle transport, consistent with its expression pattern and subcellular distribution colocalizing with Tubulin, Kinesin, and synaptic vesicle markers. We also present evidence demonstrating that Ce-LNP interacts with Ce-SIAH, the C. elegans ortholog of the Drosophila SINA E3/Ubiquitin ligase protein, and enhances its E3/Ubiquitin ligase activity. These two proteins display similar expression patterns and subcellular localizations suggesting their involvement in a common pathway. In summary, our studies suggest that Ce-LNP plays an essential role in synaptogenesis by regulating microtubule-dependent vesicular transport via its enhancing action on the ubiquitin ligase activity of Ce-SIAH.
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

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Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
105907 Functional Analysis in C.elegans of Lunapark (LNP): A Gene involved in Neurogenesis 01.10.2004 Project funding (Div. I-III)

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