Specificity and Redundancy of Profilin 1 and 2 Function in Brain Development and Neuronal Structure.

ABSTRACT: Profilin functions have been discussed in numerous cellular processes, including actin polymerization. One puzzling aspect is the concomitant expression of more than one profilin isoform in most tissues. In neuronal precursors and in neurons, profilin 1 and profilin 2 are co-expressed, but their specific and redundant functions in brain morphogenesis are still unclear. Using a conditional knockout mouse model to inactivate both profilins in the developing CNS, we found that threshold levels of profilin are necessary for the maintenance of the neuronal stem-cell compartment and the generation of the differentiated neurons, irrespective of the specific isoform. During embryonic development, profilin 1 is more abundant than profilin 2; consequently, modulation of profilin 1 levels resulted in

SUBMITTER: Di Domenico M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8467068 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature