Gamma-1-Syntrophin Mediates Trafficking of Gamma-Enolase towards the Plasma Membrane and Enhances Its Neurotrophic Activity

Syntrophins are scaffold proteins that can bind several signaling molecules and localize them to the plasma membrane. We demonstrate here that in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, brain-specific 1 -syntrophin binds the neurotrophic factor -enolase through its PDZ domain, and translocates it to the plasma membrane, as shown by immunoprecipitation, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence colocalization and flow cytometry. Extensive colocalization of 1 syntrophin and  -enolase was observed in neurite growth cones in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Silencing of the 1 -syntrophin gene by RNA interference significantly reduced the re-distribution of -enolase to the plasma membrane and impaired its neurotrophic effects. We demonstrated that an intact C-terminal end of  -enolase is essential for its 1 -syntrophin-assisted trafficking. The cleavage of two amino acids at the C-terminal end of -enolase by the carboxypeptidase cathepsin X prevents binding with the 1 -syntrophin PDZ domain. Collectively, these data demonstrate that 1 -synReceived: November 4, 2010 Accepted after revision: January 13, 2011 Published online: March 1, 2011 Dr. Janko Kos Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Ljubljana, Askerceva 7 SI–1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia) Tel. +386 14 76 9604, E-Mail janko.kos @ ffa.uni-lj.si © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel 1424–862X/10/0184–0246$26.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/nsg D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .2 13 .2 50 .1 88 5 /2 /2 01 6 10 :5 4: 51 P M