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Altered expression of KIF17, a kinesin motor protein associated with NR2B trafficking, may mediate learning deficits in a Down syndrome mouse model.

Roberson R, Toso L, Abebe D, Spong CY

Unit on Perinatal and Developmental Neurobiology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20895, USA. robersor@mail.nih.gov

OBJECTIVE: Down syndrome (DS), a major cause of mental retardation, affects 1 of 800 newborns. Mouse models for Down syndrome have been studied and found to have developmental and learning deficits, including the Ts65Dn (DS) mouse model. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunit enhances synaptic plasticity. The up-regulation of KIF17, a motor protein that transports NR2B to the synaptic region parallels up-regulation of synaptic NR2B. Down regulation of KIF17 reflects up-regulation of less plastic NR2A subunit. We evaluated NR2B, NR2A, and KIF17 in Ts65Dn and control mice. STUDY DESIGN: Ts65Dn (4) and control (4) adult brains were collected; NR2A, NR2B, and KIF17 were measured by Western blot and quantified using National Institutes of Health Image software. Comparisons were made using analysis of variance, < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in KIF17 (P = .04) level in Ts65Dn mice as compared with the control animals, but there were no significant differences in the levels of NR2A (P = .79) and NR2B (P = .96). CONCLUSION: The significant decrease of KIF17 inTs65Dn animals may in part mediate cognitive defects in DS.

Published 3 March 2008 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(3): 313.e1-4.
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