| First Author | Gunnersen JM | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | Neuron | Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 621-39 |
| PubMed ID | 18031681 | Mgi Jnum | J:132725 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3776726 | Doi | 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.09.018 |
| Citation | Gunnersen JM, et al. (2007) Sez-6 proteins affect dendritic arborization patterns and excitability of cortical pyramidal neurons. Neuron 56(4):621-39 |
| abstractText | Development of appropriate dendritic arbors is crucial for neuronal information transfer. We show, using seizure-related gene 6 (sez-6) null mutant mice, that Sez-6 is required for normal dendritic arborization of cortical neurons. Deep-layer pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex of sez-6 null mice exhibit an excess of short dendrites, and cultured cortical neurons lacking Sez-6 display excessive neurite branching. Overexpression of individual Sez-6 isoforms in knockout neurons reveals opposing actions of membrane-bound and secreted Sez-6 proteins, with membrane-bound Sez-6 exerting an antibranching effect under both basal and depolarizing conditions. Layer V pyramidal neurons in knockout brain slices show reduced excitatory postsynaptic responses and a reduced dendritic spine density, reflected by diminished punctate staining for postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95). In behavioral tests, the sez-6 null mice display specific exploratory, motor, and cognitive deficits. In conclusion, cell-surface protein complexes involving Sez-6 help to sculpt the dendritic arbor, in turn enhancing synaptic connectivity. |
