Exp Mol Med.  2009 Apr;41(4):236-242. 10.3858/emm.2009.41.4.026.

Shank 2 expression coincides with neuronal differentiation in the developing retina

• Kim JH
• Kim JH
• Yang E
• Park JH
• Yu YS
• Kim KW

• KMID: 1088598
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3858/emm.2009.41.4.026

Abstract

The retinal activity for vision requires a precise synaptic connectivity. Shank proteins at postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses play roles in signal transmission into the postsynaptic neuron. However, the correlation of Shank 2 expression with neuronal differentiation in the developing retina remains to be elucidated regardless of previous evidences of Shank 2 expression in retina. Herein, we demonstrated that with progression of development, Shank 2 is initially detected in the inner plexiform layer at P2, and then intensively detected in inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer, and ganglion cell layer at P14, which was closely colocalized to the neurofilament expression. Shank 2 was, however, not colocalized with glial fibrillary acidic protein. Shank 2 expression was increased in the differentiated retinoblastoma cells, which was mediated by ERK 1/2 activation. Moreover, Shank 2 expression was colocalized with neurofilament at the dendritic region of cells. In conclusion, our data suggests that Shank 2 is expressed in the neurons of the developing retina and could play a critical role in the neuronal differentiation of the developing retina.

Keyword

cell differentiation; extracellular signal-regulated MAP kinases; neurons; retina; SHANK 2 protein, human

MeSH Terms

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics/*metabolism
Animals
Astrocytes/cytology/metabolism
Cell Differentiation/*physiology
Enzyme Activation
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism
*Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics/*metabolism
Neurofilament Proteins/metabolism
Neurons/cytology/*physiology
*Retina/cytology/growth & development/physiology
Retinoblastoma/metabolism/pathology