Reelin protein in neuromuscular junction

[Guest guest]

Abstract from Science. 2003 Aug 1;301(5633):649-53.

Reelin promotes peripheral synapse elimination and maturation.

Quattrocchi CC, Huang C, Niu S, Sheldon M, Benhayon D, Cartwright J Jr,

Mosier DR, Keller F, D'Arcangelo G.

The Cain Foundation Laboratories, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Reelin is an extracellular protein that is crucial for layer formation

in the embryonic brain. Here, we demonstrate that Reelin functions

postnatally to regulate the development of the neuromuscular junction.

Reelin is required for motor end-plate maturation and proper

nerve-muscle connectivity, and it directly promotes synapse elimination.

Unlike layer formation, neuromuscular junction development requires a

function of Reelin that is not mediated by Disabled1 or very-low-density

lipoprotein receptors and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 receptors but by a

distinct mechanism involving its protease activity.