Sestd1 Encodes a Developmentally Dynamic Synapse Protein That Complexes With BCR Rac1-GAP to Regulate Forebrain Dendrite, Spine and Synapse Formation

Cereb Cortex. 2019 Feb 1;29(2):505-516. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx333.

Abstract

SEC14 and Spectrin domain-1 (Sestd1) is a synapse protein that exhibits a striking shift from the presynaptic to postsynaptic space as neurons mature postnatally in the mouse hippocampus. Hippocampal pyramidal neurons from mice with global genetic deletion of Sestd1 have reduced dendrite arbors, spines, and excitatory synapses. Electrophysiologically this correlates with cell-autonomous reductions in both AMPA- and NMDA-excitatory postsynaptic currents in individual hippocampal neurons from which Sestd1 has been deleted in vivo. These neurodevelopmental and functional deficits are associated with increased activation of the Rho family GTPases Rac1 and RhoA. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry reveal that the Breakpoint Cluster Region protein, a Rho GTPase activating protein (GAP), forms complexes with Sestd1 in brain tissue. This complements earlier findings that Sestd1 can also partner with other Rho family GAPs and guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Our findings demonstrate that Sestd1 is a developmentally dynamic synaptic regulator of Rho GTPases that contributes to dendrite and excitatory synapse formation within differentiating pyramidal neurons of the forebrain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / analysis
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Dendrites / chemistry
  • Dendrites / metabolism
  • Dendritic Spines / chemistry
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurogenesis / physiology
  • Neuropeptides / analysis
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Prosencephalon / chemistry
  • Prosencephalon / growth & development
  • Prosencephalon / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / metabolism*
  • Synapses / chemistry
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / analysis
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Rac1 protein, mouse
  • Sestd1 protein, mouse
  • Bcr protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein