Abstract
Cep215 (also known as Cdk5rap2) is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization. Cep215 is also placed at specific subcellular locations and organizes microtubules outside the centrosome. Here, we report that Cep215 is involved in morphological differentiation of astrocytes. Cep215 was specifically localized at the glial processes as well as centrosomes in developing astrocytes. Morphological differentiation of astrocytes was suppressed in the Cep215-deleted P19 cells and in the Cep215-depleted embryonic hippocampal culture. We confirm that the microtubule organizing function of Cep215 is critical for the glial process formation. However, Cep215 is not involved in the regulation of cell proliferation nor cell specification. Based on the results, we propose that Cep215 organizes microtubules for glial process formation during astrocyte differentiation.
Highlights
Cep[215] is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization
Cep[215] is a major pericentriolar material (PCM) protein with at least two functional domains: CM1 is essential for interaction with γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC)[7] and CM2 is essential for interaction with specific centrosome proteins, such as pericentrin and Akap4508
Upon stimulation of retinoic acid (RA), P19 cells differentiate into neurons and glial cells at early and late stages, respectively[22] (Fig. 1a)
Summary
Cep[215] ( known as Cdk5rap2) is a centrosome protein which is involved in microtubule organization. Cep[215] is placed at specific subcellular locations and organizes microtubules outside the centrosome. We report that Cep[215] is involved in morphological differentiation of astrocytes. Cep[215] was localized at the glial processes as well as centrosomes in developing astrocytes. We confirm that the microtubule organizing function of Cep[215] is critical for the glial process formation. We propose that Cep[215] organizes microtubules for glial process formation during astrocyte differentiation. Cep[215] ( known as Cdk5rap2) is a major PCM protein with at least two functional domains: CM1 is essential for interaction with γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC)[7] and CM2 is essential for interaction with specific centrosome proteins, such as pericentrin and Akap4508. It remains to be understood how microtubules contribute to morphogenesis of astrocytes
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