Dual regulation of LIM kinase 1 expression by cyclic AMP and calcium determines cofilin phosphorylation states during neuritogenesis in NG108-15 cells

Takuro Tojima, Masayuki Takahashi, Etsuro Ito*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study was designed to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuritogenesis in differentiating neurons. For this purpose, we used pharmacological and immunochemical techniques to determine the intracellular signal transduction pathways that regulate actin dynamics during neuritogenesis. We confirmed that a rise in intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration stimulated cells to increase their neurite numbers, and that this increase of neurites was suppressed by activation of calcineurin induced by a Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Expression of a specific cofilin kinase (LIM kinase 1) was increased and decreased by cAMP and Ca2+ cascades, respectively. The phosphorylation state, but not the level of expression, of a potent regulator of actin dynamics (cofilin) was strongly correlated with the expression level of LIM kinase 1. Our results suggest that polymerization and depolymerization of actin by cofilin phosphorylation is necessary for neuritogenesis in differentiating neurons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-55
Number of pages13
JournalBrain Research
Volume985
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Sept 19
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Actin
  • Calcineurin
  • Neuronal differentiation
  • Voltage-dependent Ca channel

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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