Downregulation of Rho-GDI gamma promotes differentiation of neural stem cells

Mol Cell Biochem. 2008 Apr;311(1-2):233-40. doi: 10.1007/s11010-008-9713-9. Epub 2008 Feb 14.

Abstract

Rho-GDIgamma belongs to the Rho-GDI protein family, which was observed to have high level expression in the entire brain. Although it exists in neuronal population, its physiological function is poorly understood. This study shows that Rho-GDIgamma is a key factor in the G13 signaling pathway based on an analysis of global gene expression. By using RNAi technology to downregulate expression of Rho-GDIgamma we found distinct morphological changes in neural stem cell line C17.2. More important, RT-PCR confirmed that RNAi-mediated downregulation of Rho-GDIgamma decreased expression of Rho-GDIgamma-regulated genes RhoA, Cdc42, Limk2, and N-WASP and slightly increased expression of Rac1. Further, immunochemical staining indicated that downregulation of Rho-GDIgamma increased the tendency of C17.2 cells to differentiate. These data strongly suggest that Rho-GDIgamma plays a key role in the differentiation of neural stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Computational Biology
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • RNA Interference
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • rho Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitor gamma

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors
  • rho Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitor gamma