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Signaling complexes for postsynaptic differentiation

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Abstract

The receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK is activated by agrin, an extracellular matrix protein believed to be utilized by motoneurons to regulate the formation or maintenance of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Recent studies have shed light on intracellular signaling mechanisms downstream of MuSK. Agrin enhances the activity of Rho GTPases and PAK, which is required for AChR clustering. Activation of these enzymes requires not only the kinase activity of MuSK, but also its interaction with proteins such as Dishevelled. These results suggest that MuSK may function as a scaffold tyrosine kinase that forms a multi-molecule complex for AChR clustering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurobiology, Pathology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, USA

    Zhenge Luo, Qiang Wang, G. Clement Dobbins & Shoshanah Levy

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, USA

    Wen C. Xiong & Lin Mei

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  1. Zhenge Luo
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  2. Qiang Wang
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Correspondence to Lin Mei.

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Luo, Z., Wang, Q., Dobbins, G.C. et al. Signaling complexes for postsynaptic differentiation. J Neurocytol 32, 697–708 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEUR.0000020618.65271.63

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