Abstract
MacMARCKS is a member of the MARCKS family of protein kinase C (PKC) substrates. Biochemical evidence demonstrates that these proteins integrate calcium and PKC-dependent signals to regulate actin structure at the membrane. We report here that deletion of the MacMARCKS gene prevents cranial neural tube closure in the developing brain, resulting in anencephaly. This suggests a central role for MacMARCKS and the PKC signal transduction pathway in the folding of the anterior neural plate during the early phases of brain formation, and supports the hypothesis that actin-based motility directs cranial neural tube closure.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Anencephaly / genetics*
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Brain / abnormalities
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Brain / embryology
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Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
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Cell Line
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Chimera
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DNA Primers
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Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Membrane Proteins*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Microfilament Proteins
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Neural Tube Defects / genetics*
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Protein Kinase C / metabolism
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Proteins / genetics*
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Proteins / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
Substances
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Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
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DNA Primers
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Marcksl1 protein, mouse
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Membrane Proteins
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Microfilament Proteins
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Proteins
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Protein Kinase C