Participation of BARS in membrane trafficking regulation in developing neurons.

GASTALDI L; QUASSOLLO G; WOJNAKI J; REMEDI MM; CACERES A

Huerta Grande

Congreso; XXVI Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia

The ability of cells to produce highly compartmentalized membrane domains and hence to polarize is crucial for complex biological activities, such as the organization of the nervous system. Disruption of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi secretory pathway in developing neurons alters axon-dendritic formation. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the mechanisms underlying exiting from the Golgi is crucial for understanding neuronal polarity. In this study we have analyzed the role of Brefeldin A-Ribosylated Substrate (BARS) in the regulation of morphological polarization, the formation of Golgi outposts and the exit of membrane proteins from the TGN. The results obtained show that RNAi suppression of BARS inhibits axonal/dendritic elongation and branching, as well as the extension of Golgi-outposts into dendrites. In addition, using a plasma membrane (PM) protein (e.g.transferrin receptor [TfR] fused to GFP) engineered with reversible/removable aggregation domains we observed that suppression or expression of DN-BARS delay the exit of TfR from the Golgi apparatus. Taken together, these data provide the first set of evidence suggesting a role for BARS in neuronal polarization by regulating membrane trafficking and organelle positioning. outposts into dendrites. In addition, using a plasma membrane (PM) protein (e.g.transferrin receptor [TfR] fused to GFP) engineered with reversible/removable aggregation domains we observed that suppression or expression of DN-BARS delay the exit of TfR from the Golgi apparatus. Taken together, these data provide the first set of evidence suggesting a role for BARS in neuronal polarization by regulating membrane trafficking and organelle positioning.