Mechanisms for the dendritic formation by ADP ribosylation factor 6 and its functional significance in higher brain functions

本研究的目的是剖析ADP核糖基化因子6 （ARF6）调控树突形成的分子机制。首先，我们发现IQ-ArfGEF/BRAG1通过与PSD-95家族和IRSp53相互作用，在兴奋性突触的突触后密度上作为ARF6的鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子。其次，通过酵母双杂交筛选分离出新的arf6相互作用蛋白vezatin。此外，我们利用RNA干扰方法为vezatin参与培养海马神经元树突形成的功能提供了强有力的证据。这些发现表明vezatin调节ARF6下游的树突形成。

The aim of this study is to dissect the molecular mechanism by which ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) regulates dendritic formation. First, we found that IQ-ArfGEF/BRAG1 functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for ARF6 at the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses by interacting with the PSD-95 family and IRSp53. Second, we isolated vezatin as a novel ARF6-interacting protein by yeast two hybrid screening. Furthermore, we provided the strong evidence for the functional involvement of vezatin in the dendritic formation of cultured hippocampal neurons using the RNA interference approach. These findings suggest that vezatin regulates dendritic formation downstream of ARF6.