Essential role of neuron-enriched diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), DGKbeta in neurite spine formation, contributing to cognitive function.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diacylglycerol (DG) kinase (DGK) phosphorylates DG to produce phosphatidic acid (PA). Of the 10 subtypes of mammalian DGKs, DGKbeta is a membrane-localized subtype and abundantly expressed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and caudate-putamen. However, its physiological roles in neurons and higher brain function have not been elucidated.

Methodology/principal findings

We, therefore, developed DGKbeta KO mice using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system, and found that its long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region was reduced, causing impairment of cognitive functions including spatial and long-term memories in Y-maze and Morris water-maze tests. The primary cultured hippocampal neurons from KO mice had less branches and spines compared to the wild typ

SUBMITTER: Shirai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2904696 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature