Neural-Specific Expression and Membrane Localization of FAM163B Regulates SAP97 Expression.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Neuronal cell membrane proteins are crucial for brain function, but many remain uncharacterized.
• Understanding these proteins is vital for treating neurological disorders.
• Family with sequence similarity 163 member B (FAM163B) is a neuroregulatory gene with an unknown function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the function of FAM163B in mouse neurons.
• To determine the role of FAM163B in neuronal membrane protein regulation and function.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed FAM163B expression in various mouse tissues using immunoblotting, real-time PCR, and immunofluorescence.
• Investigated FAM163B's effect on SAP97 expression in SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons.
• Examined the interaction between FAM163B and VAPA.
• Assessed neuronal endocytosis using FM4-64FX staining after FAM163B manipulation.

Main Results:

• FAM163B is exclusively expressed in the mouse brain, primarily localized to the neuronal cell membrane.
• FAM163B overexpression downregulated SAP97, while knockdown increased SAP97 levels.
• FAM163B interacts with VAPA and affects neuronal endocytosis, weakening it upon overexpression and enhancing it upon knockdown.

Conclusions:

• FAM163B plays a significant role in regulating neuronal function, particularly affecting SAP97 expression and endocytosis.
• The findings provide insights into the function of FAM163B in the nervous system.
• Further research into FAM163B could offer new therapeutic targets for brain diseases.