Developing neurons have greater capacity in experience-dependent plasticity than adult neurons but the molecular mechanism is not well understood. Here we report a developmentally regulated long-term synaptic plasticity through actin-dependent activation of presynaptic silent synapses in cultured hippocampal neurons. Live FM 1-43 imaging and retrospective immunocytochemistry revealed that many ...

BACKGROUND Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was named for its source (sero-) and ability to modify smooth muscle tone (tonin). The biological effects of 5-HT are believed to be carried out by stimulation of serotonin receptors at the plasma membrane. Serotonin has recently been shown to be synthesized in vascular smooth muscle and taken up from external sources, placing 5-HT inside the cel...

Podocalyxin (PC), the major sialoprotein of glomerular epithelial cells (GECs), helps maintain the characteristic architecture of the foot processes and the patency of the filtration slits. PC associates with actin via ezrin, a member of the ERM family of cytoskeletal linker proteins. Here we show that PC is linked to ezrin and the actin cytoskeleton via Na(+)/H(+)-exchanger regulatory factor 2...

Changes in L-35S-methionine incorporation into cytoskeletal proteins of the facial nucleus of the rat were studied at various times after unilateral crush or resection of the facial nerve by using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and fluorography. We found an increase in labeling of actin and tubulin and a decrease in the 68 kDa and 150 kDa neurofilament polypeptides (200 kDa was not studied)....

PURPOSE To examine the viability and differentiation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after exposure to the vital dye Acid Violet-17 (AV-17). METHODS Bovine RPE cells were incubated with AV-17 (0.0625-0.5 mg/mL) for 30 seconds or 5 minutes. Viability was determined by live/dead staining, cleaved CASP3 immunostainings, and MTT test. Actin cytoskeleton was visualized by Alexa 488-phall...

Down-regulation of gelsolin, an actin-binding protein, is frequently found in several types of transformed cells and tumors. The present study demonstrates that gelsolin protein and RNA were absent or markedly reduced in human breast cancer cell lines relative to "normal" mortal human mammary epithelial cells and benign, immortalized cell lines. Moreover, actin filaments were usually attenuated...

Rac1 plays a key role in neurite outgrowth via reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. The molecular mechanisms underlying Rac1-mediated actin dynamics in the cytosol and plasma membrane have been intensively studied, but the nuclear function of Rac1 in neurite outgrowth has not yet been addressed. Using subcellular fractionation and immunocytochemistry, we sought to explore the role of nucle...

Down-regulation of gelsolin, an actin-binding protein, is frequently found in several types of transformedcells and tumors.The presentstudy demon strates that gelsolin protein and RNA were absent or markedly reduced in human breast cancer cell lines relative to “normal― mortal human mammary epithelial cells and benign, immortalized cell lines. Moreover, actin filaments were usually attenuat...