PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Regulation of spine density and morphology by IQGAP1 protein domains.

  • Ignacio Jausoro,
  • Ivan Mestres,
  • Gonzalo Quassollo,
  • Lujan Masseroni,
  • Florencia Heredia,
  • Alfredo Caceres

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056574
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
p. e56574

Abstract

Read online

IQGAP1 is a scaffolding protein that regulates spine number. We now show a differential role for IQGAP1 domains in spine morphogenesis, in which a region of the N-terminus that promotes Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization and branching stimulates spine head formation while a region that binds to Cdc42 and Rac is required for stalk extension. Conversely, IQGAP1 rescues spine deficiency induced by expression of dominant negative Cdc42 by stimulating formation of stubby spines. Together, our observations place IQGAP1 as a crucial regulator of spine number and shape acting through the N-Wasp Arp2/3 complex, as well as upstream and downstream of Cdc42.