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Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2002, p. 3140-3148, Vol. 22, No. 9
0270-7306/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/MCB.22.9.3140-3148.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Defective Dendrite Elongation but Normal Fertility in Mice Lacking the Rho-Like GTPase Activator Dbl

Emilio Hirsch,1* Michela Pozzato,1 Alessandro Vercelli,2 Laura Barberis,1 Ornella Azzolino,1 Chiara Russo,3 Cristina Vanni,3 Lorenzo Silengo,1 Alessandra Eva,3 and Fiorella Altruda1

Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica,1 Dipartimento di Anatomia, Farmacologia e Medicina Forense, Università di Torino, 10126 Turin,2 Laboratorio di Biologia Molecolare, Istituto G. Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy3

Received 26 November 2001/ Returned for modification 27 December 2001/ Accepted 4 February 2002

Dbl is the prototype of a large family of GDP-GTP exchange factors for small GTPases of the Rho family. In vitro, Dbl is known to activate Rho and Cdc42 and to induce a transformed phenotype. Dbl is specifically expressed in brain and gonads, but its in vivo functions are largely unknown. To assess its role in neurogenesis and gametogenesis, targeted deletion of the murine Dbl gene was accomplished in embryonic stem cells. Dbl-null mice are viable and did not show either decreased reproductive performances or obvious neurological defects. Histological analysis of mutant testis showed normal morphology and unaltered proliferation and survival of spermatogonia. Dbl-null brains indicated a correct disposition of the major neural structures. Analysis of cortical stratification indicated that Dbl is not crucial for neuronal migration. However, in distinct populations of Dbl-null cortical pyramidal neurons, the length of dendrites was significantly reduced, suggesting a role for Dbl in dendrite elongation.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Biochimica, Via Santena 5bis, 10126 Turin, Italy. Phone: 39-011-670 6670. Fax: 39-011-670 6547. E-mail: emilio.hirsch{at}unito.it.

Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2002, p. 3140-3148, Vol. 22, No. 9
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/MCB.22.9.3140-3148.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Negishi, M., Katoh, H. (2005). Rho Family GTPases and Dendrite Plasticity. Neuroscientist 11: 187-191 [Abstract]  
  • Govek, E.-E., Newey, S. E., Van Aelst, L. (2005). The role of the Rho GTPases in neuronal development. Genes Dev. 19: 1-49 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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