DDA3 stabilizes microtubules and suppresses neurite formation

We have previously shown that DDA3 - also known as proline/serine-rich coiled-coil protein 1 (PSRC1) - is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes cell growth by stimulating the β-catenin pathway. Here, we report that DDA3 can bundle and stabilize microtubules in vivo and in vitro. We found that overexpression of DDA3 increased the abundance of acetylated and tyrosinated microtubules. We employed PC12 and N2a cell lines, as well as cultured hippocampal neurons, and demonstrated that overexpression of DDA3 suppressed neurite/axon outgrowth, whereas its depletion accelerated neurite/axon formation and elongation. Knockdown of DDA3 reduced β3-tubulin levels in N2a cells, which contributed to the spontaneous neurite formation caused by DDA3 depletion. Consistent with its role in suppressing neuritogenesis, DDA3 was downregulated during induced neuronal differentiation. Moreover, expression of DDA3 was detected in the rat brain at embryonic (E) day E15 and in the cortical region at E17, the period of active neurogenesis. Levels of cortical DDA3 decreased at the beginning of E19, when active neuritogenesis is completed. Overall our results demonstrate that DDA3 is a so-far-unknown microtubule-stabilizing protein that is involved in regulating neurite formation and elongation.