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2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Role of perlecan at the neuromuscular junction

Research Project

Project/Area Number 14570618
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Neurology
Research InstitutionJuntendo University

Principal Investigator

HIRASAWA Eri  Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (50245718)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HIRASAWA Motoyuki  Juntendo University, School of Medicine, assistant, 医学部, 講師 (90338393)
Project Period (FY) 2002 – 2003
Keywordsperlecan / peparan sulfate proteoglycan / neuromuscular junction / acetylcholine esterase / myotonia / microelectrode analyses / Schwartz-Jampel syndrome
Research Abstract

At the NMJ, the nicotinic ACh receptor mediates postsynaptic depolarization, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) terminates this process by hydrolyzing ACh. Efficient and accurate synaptic transmission requires proper localization of many signaling proteins in the synaptic membrane. In the perlecan knockout mice, muscle development and differentiation appear to be normal and normal nerve terminals are formed at birth. Clustering molecules are present at the NMJ of the mutant mouse muscles. However, AChE is absent at the newborn MNJ, although AChE protein is synthesized normally. An animal model is ideal to study the mechanism of myotonia of SJS(Schwartz-Jampel syndrome). However, perlecan-null mice are lethal. To overcome this problem, we used a genetic approach to rescue the perinatal lethal phenotype of perlecan-null mice by mating heterozygotes of perlecan-null mice with transgenic mice expressing recombinant perlecan specifically to cartilage but not to other tissues. The perlecan-null homozygous mice with the transgene are born normal and survive, but they develop small eyes and blepharospasm, common features of SJS. These mice also show myotonic discharge in electromyography (EMG) and myopathic change in histology. AChE activity staining shows reduced localization of AChE at the NMJ in the mutant. mice. Thus, the rescued mice show phenotypes characteristic of SJS and are useful as an animal model to study the mechanism of myotonia and to develop therapeutic agents for the disease.

  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All Other

All Publications (12 results)

  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Rossi SG, Rotundo RL, Yamada Y: "Absence of acetylcholinesterase at the neuromuscular junctions of perlecan-null mice."Nature Neuroscience. 5. 119-123 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Le AH, Nishino I, Nonaka I, Ho NC et al.: "Structural and functional mutations of the perlecan gene cause Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, with myotonic myopathy and chondrodysplasia."Am.J.Hum.Gen.. 70. 1368-1375 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Wilcox WR, Yamada Y: "Dyssegmental Dysplasia, Silverman-Handmaker Type : Unexpected role of perlecan in cartilage development."Am.J.Med.Gen.. 106. 254-257 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Hassell J, Yamada Y, Arikawa-Hirsawa E: "Role of perlecan in skeletal development and diseases."Glycoconj J. 19(4/5). 263-267 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Yuasa K, Fukumoto S, Kamasaki Y, et al.: "Laminin alpha2 essential for odontoblast differentiation regulating dentin sialoprotein expression"J Biol Chem.. 279. 10286-10292 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Hirasawa M, Ohshima T, Takahashi S, et al.: "Perinatal abrogation of Cdk5 expression in brain results in neuronal migration defects"Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.. 101(16). 6249-6254 (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Rossi SG, Rotundo RL, Yamada Y.: "Absence of acetyicholinesterase at the neuromuscular junctions of perlecan-null mice."Nature Neuroscience. 5. 119-123 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Le AH, Nishino I, Nonaka I, Ho NC Francomano CA, Govindraj P, Hassell JR, Devaney JM, Spranger J, Stevenson RH, Iannaccone S, Dalakas MC, Yamada Y.: "Structural and functional mutations of the perlecan gene cause Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, with myotonic myopathy and chondrodysplasia."Am.J.Hum.Gen.. 70. 1368-1375 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Wilcox WR, Yamada Y.: "Dyssegmental Dysplasia, Silverman-Handmaker Type: Unexpected role of perlecan in cartilage development."Am.J.Med.Gen.. 106. 254-257 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Hassell J, Yamada Y, Arikawa-Hirasawa E.: "Role of perlecan in skeletal development and diseases."Glycoconj J.. 19(4/5). 263-267 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Yuasa K, Fukumoto S, Kamasaki Y, Yamada A, Fukumoto E, Kanaoka K, Saito K, Harada H, Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y, Takeda S, Okamoto K, Kato Y, Fujiwara T.: "Laminin alpha2 essential for odontoblast differentiation regulating dentin sialoprotein expression."J Biol Chem.. 279. 10286-10292 (2003)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Hirasawa M, Ohshima T, Takahashi S, Longenecker G, Honjo Y, Veeranna, Pant HC, Mikoshiba K, Brady RO, Kulkarni AB.: "Links Perinatal abrogation of Cdk5 expression in brain results in neuronal migration defects"Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004 Apr 20. 101(16). 6249-6254 (2004)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2005-04-19  

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