Rho family GTPases have been implicated in cytoskeletal reorganization during neuritogenesis. We have recently identified a new gene of this family, cRac1B, specifically expressed in the chicken developing nervous system. This GTPase was overexpressed in primary neurons to study the role of cRac1B in the development of the neuronal phenotype. Overexpression of cRac1B induced an increment in the number of neurites per neuron, and dramatically increased neurite branching, whereas overexpression of the highly related and ubiquitous cRac1A GTPase did not evidently affect neuronal morphology. Furthermore, expression of an inactive form of cRac1B strikingly inhibited neurite formation. The specificity of cRac1B action observed in neurons was not observed in fibroblasts, where both GTPases produced similar effects on cell morphology and actin organization, indicating the existence of a cell type-dependent specificity of cRac1B function. Molecular dissection of cRac1B function by analysis of the effects of chimeric cRac1A/cRac1B proteins showed that the COOH-terminal portion of cRac1B is essential to induce increased neuritogenesis and neurite branching. Considering the distinctive regulation of cRac1B expression during neural development, our data strongly support an important role of cRac1B during neuritogenesis, and they uncover new mechanisms underlying the functional specificity of distinct Rho family GTPases.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
10 August 1998
Article|
August 10 1998
Overexpression of a Neural-specific Rho Family GTPase, cRac1B, Selectively Induces Enhanced Neuritogenesis and Neurite Branching in Primary Neurons
Chiara Albertinazzi,
Chiara Albertinazzi
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Daniela Gilardelli,
Daniela Gilardelli
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Simona Paris,
Simona Paris
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Renato Longhi,
Renato Longhi
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Ivan de Curtis
Ivan de Curtis
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Chiara Albertinazzi
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Daniela Gilardelli
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Simona Paris
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Renato Longhi
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Ivan de Curtis
*Cell Adhesion Unit, Department of Biological and Technological Research, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; and ‡Institute of Hormone Chemistry, National Research Council, 20133 Milano, Italy
Address all correspondence to Ivan de Curtis, Cell Adhesion Unit, DIBIT, S. Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy. Tel.: 39-02-2643-4828. Fax: 39-02-2643-4813. E-mail: decurtis.ivan @hsr.it
Received:
January 20 1998
Revision Received:
March 17 1998
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
1998
J Cell Biol (1998) 142 (3): 815–825.
Article history
Received:
January 20 1998
Revision Received:
March 17 1998
Citation
Chiara Albertinazzi, Daniela Gilardelli, Simona Paris, Renato Longhi, Ivan de Curtis; Overexpression of a Neural-specific Rho Family GTPase, cRac1B, Selectively Induces Enhanced Neuritogenesis and Neurite Branching in Primary Neurons . J Cell Biol 10 August 1998; 142 (3): 815–825. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.142.3.815
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement
Advertisement