Neurofibromin interacts with CRMP-2 and CRMP-4 in rat brain

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 May 2;369(2):747-52. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.02.095. Epub 2008 Feb 29.

Abstract

Neurofibromin, encoded by the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene, regulates the Ras and cAMP pathways and plays a role in proliferation and neuronal morphogenesis. The details of the molecular mechanism of neurofibromin action in these processes are still unclear. In this study, immunoprecipitation and proteomics were used to identify novel proteins from rat brain that interact with neurofibromin. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that two proteins, the collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2) and propionyl-CoA carboxylase alpha chain (PCCA), associated with neurofibromin. Immunoprecipitation-immunoblotting analysis confirmed the interactions between neurofibromin and CRMP-2 and CRMP-4, but not CRMP-1, in rat brain. CDK5, a kinase that regulates CRMP-2 in axonal outgrowth, was required for the interaction between neurofibromin and CRMP-2. Since both neurofibromin and CRMP proteins are involved in proliferation and axonal morphogenesis, these results suggest that the interaction with CRMPs contributes to the function of neurofibromin in tumorigenesis and neuronal morphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurofibromin 1 / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Rats

Substances

  • Dpysl3 protein, rat
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neurofibromin 1
  • collapsin response mediator protein-2