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新着情報 |
○小脳におけるDNERの生理機能 (2006. 10)
DNER as key molecule for cerebellar maturation
Saito, S. & Takeshima, H. (Cerebellum 5, 227-231,
2006) |
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Notch signaling plays an important role in the process of
cell-fate assignation during nervous system development. DNER
is a neuron-specific transmembrane protein carrying extracellular
EGF-like repeats and is expressed in somatodendritic regions.
In vitro studies demonstrated that DNER mediates Notch signaling
by cell-cell interaction. In the cerebellum, DNER is abundantly
expressed in Purkinje cells and moderately in granule cells.
DNER-knockout mice showed motor discoordination. The mutant
cerebellum showed morphological impairments of Bergmann glia
and multiple innervation between climbing fibers and Purkinje
cells. Moreover, glutamate clearance at the synapses between
parallel fibers and Purkinje cells was significantly weakened,
and the expression of GLAST, a glutamate transporter in Bergmann
glia, was reduced in the mutant cerebellum. Therefore, DNER
contributes to the morphological and functional maturation
of Bergmann glia via the Notch signaling pathway, and is essential
for precise cerebellar development. |
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