Mechanism of Neuronal Polarization Mediated by Shootin and Its Roles in the Brain

在这项研究中，我们分析了shootin 1在轴突中积累的机制，发现shootin 1是通过动态相互作用的肌动蛋白丝的“波”结构运输到轴突生长锥。在生长锥中积累的shootin 1通过介导肌动蛋白丝和L1-CAM之间的连接，作为一个“离合器”分子，促进神经突起的生长。此外，为了分析shootin 1在大脑中的功能，我们制作了shootin 1基因敲除小鼠;它们在大脑的多个区域显示出发育不全，包括大脑皮层、海马、隔、嗅球、胼胝体和海马连合。这些结果表明shootin 1在神经元极化和脑发育中起重要作用。

In this study, we analyzed the mechanism for shootin1 accumulation in axons, and found that shootin1 is transported to the axonal growth cones by interacting dynamically the actin filaments in the "wave" structures. Accumulation of shootin1 in the growth cones promoted neurite outgrowth by mediating the linkage between actin filaments and L1-CAM, as a "clutch" molecule. Furthermore, to analyze the functions of shootin1 in the brain, we produced shootin1 knockout mice ; they showed agenesis in multiple regions in the brain, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, septum, olfactory bulb, corpus callosum, and hippocampal commissure. These results suggest that shootin1 plays an important role in neuronal polarization and brain development.