Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Real-Time Fluorescent Measurement of Synaptic Functions in Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: July 16, 2021
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated mutant profilin 1 increases dendritic arborisation and spine formation in
Merryn Brettle1, Alexandra K Suchowerska1, Sook W Chua2
1Neurodegeneration and Repair Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease and familial ALS accounts for 10% of cases. The identification of familial ALS mutations in the actin-binding protein profilin 1 directly implicates actin dynamics and regulation in the pathogenesis of ALS. The mechanism by which these mutations cause ALS is unknown. In this study we show that expression of the ALS-associated actin-binding deficient mutant of PFN1 (PFN1(C71G)) results in increased dendritic arborisation and spine formation, and cytoplasmic inclusions in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons.
Related Concept Videos
01:39Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...