DBN1

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic actin-binding protein thought to play a role in the process of neuronal growth. It is a member of the drebrin family of proteins that are developmentally regulated in the brain. A decrease in the amount of this protein in the brain has been implicated as a possible contributing factor in the pathogenesis of memory disturbance in Alzheimer's disease. At least two alternative splice variants encoding different protein isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq]

Full Name

drebrin 1

Function

Actin cytoskeleton-organizing protein that plays a role in the formation of cell projections (PubMed:20215400).

Required for actin polymerization at immunological synapses (IS) and for the recruitment of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 to IS (PubMed:20215400).

Plays a role in dendritic spine morphogenesis and organization, including the localization of the dopamine receptor DRD1 to the dendritic spines (By similarity).

Involved in memory-related synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus (By similarity).

Biological Process

Actin filament organization Source: UniProtKB
C communication by chemical coupling Source: Ensembl
Cell communication by electrical coupling Source: Ensembl
Cytoplasmic sequestering of protein Source: UniProtKB
In utero embryonic development Source: Ensembl
Maintenance of protein location in cell Source: Ensembl
Neural precursor cell proliferation Source: Ensembl
Neuron projection morphogenesis Source: GO_Central
Positive regulation of axon extension Source: GO_Central
Positive regulation of dendritic spine morphogenesis Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of receptor localization to synapse Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of synaptic plasticity Source: UniProtKB
Postsynaptic actin cytoskeleton organization Source: GO_Central
Regulation of actin filament polymerization Source: GO_Central
Regulation of dendrite development Source: UniProtKB
Regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm; Dendrite; Cell cortex; Cell junction; Growth cone. In the absence of antigen, evenly distributed throughout subcortical regions of the T-cell membrane and cytoplasm (PubMed:20215400). In the presence of antigen, distributes to the immunological synapse forming at the T-cell-APC contact area, where it localizes at the peripheral and distal supramolecular activation clusters (SMAC) (PubMed:20215400). Colocalized with RUFY3 and F-actin at the transitional domain of the axonal growth cone (By similarity).

Involvement in disease

Alzheimer disease (AD):
The protein represented in this entry may be involved in disease pathogenesis. In brains of patients with AD, decreased expression and absence from dystrophic neurites in amyloid plaques. Disappearance of debrin from the hippocampus may contribute to the pathogenesis of memory disturbance in AD. Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive dementia, loss of cognitive abilities, and deposition of fibrillar amyloid proteins as intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, extracellular amyloid plaques and vascular amyloid deposits. The major constituents of these plaques are neurotoxic amyloid-beta protein 40 and amyloid-beta protein 42, that are produced by the proteolysis of the transmembrane APP protein. The cytotoxic C-terminal fragments (CTFs) and the caspase-cleaved products, such as C31, are also implicated in neuronal death.