ePoster

Exploring the function of the synaptic adaptor protein p140Cap in human excitatory neurons derived from iPSCs

Mario De Gregorio, Alessandro Morellato, Olga Teresa Bianciotto, Arianna Colombino, Beatrice Bersia, Zoe Lesti, Samuele Marro, Emilia Turco, Paola Defilippi
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Mario De Gregorio, Alessandro Morellato, Olga Teresa Bianciotto, Arianna Colombino, Beatrice Bersia, Zoe Lesti, Samuele Marro, Emilia Turco, Paola Defilippi

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyze the roles of the adaptor protein p140cap in human nervous system, at neuronal and synaptic levels, using induced neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Studies on mice models have demonstrated how p140cap is involved in the regulation of synaptic functions, especially in the maturation, stabilization, and remodeling of dendritic spines. This protein is also implicated in plasticity phenomena, such as LTP, LTD, learning, and memory, due to its direct interaction with the GLUN2A subunit of NMDAR. The p140cap protein is encoded by the SRCIN1 gene, and gene co-expression studies have shown a relationship with genes associated with schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy.To obtain human-induced neurons (iN), WTC-11 iPSCs were differentiated using a one-step rapid differentiation method based on Tet-On induction of the transcription factor Ngn2. Overexpression of neurogenin-2 (Ngn2) effectively facilitated the differentiation of iPSCs into neurons, as shown by expression of specific synaptic markers. In addition, to evaluate the impact of the absence of p140cap, we created a SRCIN1 knockout model derived from the iPSCs line WTC-11. Fluorescence immunostaining analyses were conducted to assess the interactions of p140cap with other neuronal proteins and various synaptic cellular compartments in this model. To evaluate the overall effect of this protein in the human nervous system, we are conducting transcriptomic, biochemical, and electrophysiological analyses (MEA analysis), comparing the wild-type (wt) model to the knockout (ko) model and assessing potential variations over time.

Unique ID: fens-24/exploring-function-synaptic-adaptor-40b38f80