CRK and NCK adaptors may functionally overlap in zebrafish neurodevelopment, as indicated by common binding partners and overlapping expression patterns

This study finds CRK and NCK adaptors overlap in their neuronal expression during zebrafish development. It also finds CRK and NCK adaptors share common SH2 and SH3 binding partners from a neuronal cell line. Common binding partners include proteins critical for cell motility and adhesion. Together these data suggest CRK and NCK adaptors can play overlapping roles in neurodevelopment. CRK adaptor proteins are important for signal transduction mechanisms driving cell proliferation and positioning during vertebrate central nervous system development. Zebrafish lacking both CRK family members exhibit small, disorganized retinas with 50% penetrance. The goal of this study was to determine if another adaptor protein might functionally compensate for the loss of CRK adaptors. Expression patterns in developing zebrafish, and bioinformatic analyses of the motifs recognized by their SH2 and SH3 domains, suggest NCK adaptors are well-positioned to compensate for loss of CRK adaptors. In support of this hypothesis, proteomic analyses found CRK and NCK adaptors share overlapping interacting partners including known regulators of cell adhesion and migration, suggesting their functional intersection in neurodevelopment.

Source: FEBS Letters - December 7, 2023 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Helaina R. Stergas, Maeve Dillon ‐Martin, Caroline M. Dumas, Nicole A. Hansen, Francesca J. Carasi‐Schwartz, Alex R. D’Amico, Kylie M. Finnegan, Uatchet Juch, Keeley R. Kane, Isabel E. Kaplan, Madeline L. Masengarb, Marina E. Melero, Lau Tags: Research Article Source Type: research