Abstract
Cbl-interacting protein of 85 kDa (CIN85) is a multiadaptor protein containing three Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, a proline-rich region and a coiled-coil domain. We have previously shown that CIN85 is involved in regulation of ligand-induced endocytosis of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. To analyze the biological function of CIN85 in vivo, we generated mutant mice deficient in the expression of CIN85. We found that the number of offspring cares of CIN85 knockout (KO) mother mice was less than that of a wild type. Some offspring were cannibalized and neglected by a mother soon after birth. The average number of offspring cares after 5 days of the birth was 7.1 in a wild type, and 2.4 in the mutant. To clarify the cause of this difference, we examined the brain of CIN85 KO mice. The mutant mice displayed absence of the corpus callosum (commissure of the cerebral hemispheres) and increased dopamine levels in the striatum. The low-nursing ability in the KO mice may be partly due to such abnormalities in the brain by loss-of-function of CIN85. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S140]
