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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
An Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein-based Assay for Studying Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Neurons
Published on: October 19, 2019
Marked effect of RhoA-specific shRNA-producing plasmids on neurite growth in PC12 cells
You-Ming Fan1, Chi-Pui Pang, Alan R Harvey
1Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China. youmingf@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract:
In order to promote neurite outgrowth, we constructed a plasmid producing RhoA-specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) to block RhoA expression and tested its actions in PC12 cells. Our results show that the shRNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) successfully suppressed RhoA expression. As a consequence of RhoA knockdown, F-actin levels were significantly reduced and processes were markedly induced. These processes express two neurite markers, neurofilament and betaIII tubulin. This study demonstrates that plasmid-producing shRNA specific for RhoA can act as an effective tool to induce neurite outgrowth and further confirms the neurite growth-inhibitory role of RhoA. This shRNA may thus be a useful tool in promoting neurite outgrowth and could be applicable in neural repair after CNS injury.
