Actin Isoforms in Neuronal Development and Function - International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology - page 156

CHAPTER FOUR

Actin Isoforms in Neuronal
Development and Function

Thomas R. Cheever * , James. M. Ervasti ** , 1
* Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
** Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1 Corresponding author: E-mail: [e-mail]

Contents
1. Introduction

158

2. NeuronalActinCytoskeleton 158

3. ActinIsoforms 159

3.1. ExpressioninNeuronsandtheNervousSystem 160

3.2. DistinctBiochemicalProperties 161

4. RegulationofActinIsoformsinNeuronalDevelopmentandFunction 162

4.1. TranscriptionalRegulation 163

4.2. PosttranscriptionalRegulation 164

4.3. PosttranslationalRegulationofActinIsoforms 166

5. RolesforActinIsoformsinNeuronalDevelopmentandFunction 168

5.1. ActinIsoformExpressionPatternsduringNeuronalDiferentiation
andBrainDevelopment 168
5.1.1. Temporal and Protein Level Regulation 168
5.1.2. Spatial Localization 170
5.2. RolesfortheLocalizationandLocalTranslationof β -Actin 174
5.2.1. Local β -Actin Translation in Growth Cone Guidance 174
5.2.2. Local Translation of β -Actin in Dendrites and Dendritic Spine Morphogenesis 181
6. InsightsintoActinIsoformFunctionsfromInVivoStudiesandHumanDiseases 184
6.1. NovelRolesfor β -ActinRevealedbyaCNS-Speciic β -ActinKnockoutMouse 185
6.1.1. Contributions of β -Actin to Actin Isoform Expression within the Brain 185

6.1.2. Restricted Roles for β -Actin in Mediating Brain Structure 186

6.1.3. β -Actin Contributes to the Proper Regulation of Select Behaviors 189

6.2. InsightfromZBP1KnockoutandHeterozygousMouseStudies 192

6.3. HumanNeurologicalDiseasesRelatedto β -and γ -Actin 194

6.3.1. Potential Role for β -Actin in Spinal Muscular Atrophy 194

6.3.2. Neurological Effects of Mutations in Human β - and γ -Actin 197

7. FutureDirections 198

7.1. MolecularandCellularStudies 199

7.2. InVivoStudies 200

8. ConcludingRemarks 202