Kspot, a novel ubiquitin ligase, regulates synaptic activity

Abstract

We identified a novel ubiquitin ligase (E3), Kspot as a target molecule of a high titer autoantibody produced in the serum of a patient with stomach can cer, associated with psychiatric symptoms.Kspot is highly conserved througho ut species and expressed in the mammalian nervous system. In this study we d emonstrated that Kspot formed an SCF complex and mediated ubiquitination of cellular proteins. Furthermore, overexpression of Kspot in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons resulted in a decrease in the miniature excitatory p ostsynaptic current frequency. We propose that Kspot plays an important role in the regulation of the neurotransmitter release at the presynaptic site. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S123]