RUcore Resource Object
RUcore Resource Object
PDF-1(39.46 MB)
TitleTo branch or not to branch
NameSweet, Eric S. (author), Firestein, Bonnie L (chair), Wadsworth, William (internal member), Zhou, Renping (internal member), Barr, Maureen (internal member), Jacinto, Estella (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2011-10
Date Created2011
SubjectNeuroscience,
Microtubules,
Dendrites
DescriptionNeuronal morphology is crucial for normal communication and health and is altered in many disease states. Microtubules are key regulators of neuronal morphology and are key components in transport of molecular cargo. Therefore, regulation of microtubule behavior is very important for establishing proper neuronal morphology and function. Thus, we examined the role of two proteins, PSD-95 and cypin, on microtubule dynamics and structure. First we show that PSD-95, a well-known synaptic protein, negatively regulates dendrite branching through a novel interaction with EB3, a plus-end microtubule-binding protein. Second, we show that cypin, a protein known to positively regulate dendrite branching, alters microtubule behavior and binds to assembled microtubules as well as tubulin heterodimers. We also show that PSD-95 and cypin have opposite but complimentary roles in changing microtubule stability, with cypin increasing and PSD-95 decreasing the stability of microtubules. Finally, we examine the ability of small molecules compounds to modify the cellular functions of cypin. We show that cypin’s guanine deaminase activity and interaction with PSD-95 can be altered by these compounds, affecting cellular behavior.
NotePh. D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Eric S. Sweet
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10001600001.ETD.000063664
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.