Signaling complexes for postsynaptic differentiation

Zhenge Luo, Qiang Wang, G. Clement Dobbins, Shoshanah Levy, Wen C. Xiong, Lin Mei

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)697-708
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neurocytology
Volume32
Issue number5-8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • General Neuroscience
  • Histology
  • Cell Biology

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