Brain research. Molecular brain research
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Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. · Oct 1994
Expression of the growth-associated protein B-50/GAP43 via a defective herpes-simplex virus vector results in profound morphological changes in non-neuronal cells.
This study describes the creation and application of a defective herpes simplex viral (HSV) vector for B-50/GAP-43, a neural growth-associated phosphoprotein. We demonstrate abundant expression of B-50/GAP-43 in cultured non-neuronal cells (African green monkey kidney cells [vero cells] and Rabbit skin cells) via this HSV vector. When B-50/GAP-43 was expressed in non-neuronal cells major morphological changes occurred that included extensive membrane ruffling, the formation of filopodia and long thin extensions reminiscent of neurites. ⋯ Some immunoreactivity was associated with vesicular structures that appear to be in-transit in the processes. These observations suggest that B-50/GAP-43 acts at the plasmamembrane to induce a neuron-like morphology in non-neuronal cells persisting for several days in culture. In the future the defective viral vector will enable gene transfer to express B-50/GAP-43 in neurons in vivo in order to study its involvement in regenerative sprouting and neuroplasticity.