Delta-catenin is required for the maintenance of neural structure and function in mature cortex in vivo.

Abstract

Delta-catenin is a brain-specific member of the adherens junction complex that localizes to the postsynaptic and dendritic compartments. This protein is likely critical for normal cognitive function; its hemizygous loss is linked to the severe mental retardation syndrome Cri-du-Chat and it directly interacts with presenilin-1 (PS1), the protein most frequently mutated in familial Alzheimer's disease. Here we examine dendritic structure and cortical function in vivo in mice lacking delta-catenin. We find that in cerebral cortex of 5-week-old mice, dendritic complexity, spine density, and cortical responsiveness are similar between mutant and littermate controls; thereafter, mutant mice experience progressive dendritic retraction, a reduction in spine density and stability, and concomitant reductions in cortical responsiveness. Our results indicate that delta-catenin regulates the maintenance of dendrites and dendritic spines in mature cortex but does not appear to be necessary for the initial establishment of these structures during development.

• Authors: Cheryl Matter, Mochtar Pribadi, Xin Liu, Joshua T Trachtenberg
• Journal: Neuron (Neuron) Vol. 64 Issue 3 Pg. 320-7 (Nov 12 2009) ISSN: 1097-4199 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19914181 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Catenins
• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Phosphoproteins
• enhanced green fluorescent protein
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Delta Catenin

Topics

• Aging
• Animals
• Catenins
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (genetics, metabolism)
• Cell Size
• Cerebral Cortex (cytology, growth & development, physiology)
• Dendrites (physiology)
• Dendritic Spines (physiology)
• Electric Stimulation
• Green Fluorescent Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Kinetics
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Microelectrodes
• Mutation
• Neurons (cytology, physiology)
• Phosphoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Pyramidal Cells (cytology, physiology)
• Visual Cortex (cytology, growth & development, physiology)
• Delta Catenin