Bmcc1s, a novel brain-isoform of Bmcc1, affects cell morphology by regulating MAP6/STOP functions

• Published in: PloS one 2012-04, Vol.7 (4), p.e35488-e35488
• Main Authors: Arama, Jessica, Boulay, Anne-Cécile, Bosc, Christophe, Delphin, Christian, Loew, Damarys, Rostaing, Philippe, Amigou, Edwige, Ezan, Pascal, Wingertsmann, Laure, Guillaud, Laurent, Andrieux, Annie, Giaume, Christian, Cohen-Salmon, Martine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Animals; Antigens; Apoptosis; Astrocytes; Astrocytes - metabolism; Biology; Brain; Brain - metabolism; Brain research; Cell morphology; Cell survival; Cellular Biology; Cold Temperature; Cytology; Cytoskeleton; Filaments; HeLa Cells; Homology; Humans; Interdisciplinary aspects; Intermediate filament proteins; Intermediate filaments; Kinases; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Mass spectrometry; Mice; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - drug effects; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Microtubules; Microtubules - drug effects; Microtubules - physiology; Molecular modelling; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphology; Neoplasm Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Neurons; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons and Cognition; Neurosciences; Prostate cancer; Protein binding; Protein Isoforms; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Proteins; Rodents; Science; Scientific imaging; Stability
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035488

The BCH (BNIP2 and Cdc42GAP Homology) domain-containing protein Bmcc1/Prune2 is highly enriched in the brain and is involved in the regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics and cell survival. However, the molecular mechanisms accounting for these functions are poorly defined. Here, we have identified Bmcc1s, a novel isoform of Bmcc1 predominantly expressed in the mouse brain. In primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons, Bmcc1s localized on intermediate filaments and microtubules and interacted directly with MAP6/STOP, a microtubule-binding protein responsible for microtubule cold stability. Bmcc1s overexpression inhibited MAP6-induced microtubule cold stability by displacing MAP6 away from microtubules. It also resulted in the formation of membrane protrusions for which MAP6 was a necessary cofactor of Bmcc1s. This study identifies Bmcc1s as a new MAP6 interacting protein able to modulate MAP6-induced microtubule cold stability. Moreover, it illustrates a novel mechanism by which Bmcc1 regulates cell morphology.