Regulation of microtubule dynamics by the neuronal growth-associated protein SCG10

Regulation of microtubule dynamics by the neuronal growth-associated protein SCG10

^‡Geneva Biomedical Research Institute–Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development S.A., 14 Chemin des Aulx, Case postale 674, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland; and ^*Institut de Biologie Cellulaire et de Morphologie, 9 Rue du Bugnon, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland

Abstract

Dynamic assembly and disassembly of microtubules is essential for cell division, cell movements, and intracellular transport. In the developing nervous system, microtubule dynamics play a fundamental role during neurite outgrowth, elongation, and branching, but the molecular mechanisms involved are unknown. SCG10 is a neuron-specific protein that is membrane-associated and highly enriched in growth cones. Here we show that SCG10 binds to microtubules, inhibits their assembly, and can induce microtubule disassembly. We also show that SCG10 overexpression enhances neurite outgrowth in a stably transfected neuronal cell line. These data identify SCG10 as a key regulator of neurite extension through regulation of microtubule instability.

Footnotes

↵ † B.M.R. and V.P. contributed equally to this work.
↵ § To whom reprint requests should be addressed. e-mail: GG27764@GGR.CO.UK.
Corey S. Goodman, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Abbreviations: MT, microtubule; MAP, MT-associated protein; NGF, nerve growth factor.