Ankyrin-G regulates neurogenesis and Wnt signaling by altering the subcellular localization of β-catenin.

ABSTRACT: Ankyrin-G is a scaffolding protein required for the formation of the axon initial segment in neurons. Recent genome-wide association studies and whole-exome sequencing have identified ANK3, the gene coding for ankyrin-G, to be a risk gene for multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Here, we describe a novel role for ankyrin-G in neural progenitor proliferation in the developing cortex. We found that ankyrin-G regulates canonical Wnt signaling by altering the subcellular localization and availability of β-catenin in proliferating cells. Ankyrin-G loss-of-function increases β-catenin levels in the nucleus, thereby promoting neural progenitor proliferation. Importantly, abnormalities in proliferation can be rescued by reducing

SUBMITTER: Durak O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4231016 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature