Phospho-DCX (Ser334)

This gene encodes a member of the doublecortin family. The protein encoded by this gene is a cytoplasmic protein and contains two doublecortin domains, which bind microtubules. In the developing cortex, cortical neurons must migrate over long distances to reach the site of their final differentiation. The encoded protein appears to direct neuronal migration by regulating the organization and stability of microtubules. In addition, the encoded protein interacts with LIS1, the regulatory gamma subunit of platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase, and this interaction is important to proper microtubule function in the developing cortex. Mutations in this gene cause abnormal migration of neurons during development and disrupt the layering of the cortex, leading to epilepsy, cognitive disability, subcortical band heterotopia ("double cortex" syndrome) in females and lissencephaly ("smooth brain" syndrome) in males. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2010]

Full Name

Doublecortin

Function

Microtubule-associated protein required for initial steps of neuronal dispersion and cortex lamination during cerebral cortex development. May act by competing with the putative neuronal protein kinase DCLK1 in binding to a target protein. May in that way participate in a signaling pathway that is crucial for neuronal interaction before and during migration, possibly as part of a calcium ion-dependent signal transduction pathway. May be part with PAFAH1B1/LIS-1 of overlapping, but distinct, signaling pathways that promote neuronal migration.

Biological Process

Axoneme assembly Source: GO_Central
Central nervous system development Source: ProtInc
Intracellular signal transduction Source: InterPro
Nervous system development Source: ProtInc
Neuron migration Source: UniProtKB
Photoreceptor cell development Source: GO_Central
Retina development in camera-type eye Source: GO_Central

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm; Neuron projection. Localizes at neurite tips.

Involvement in disease

Lissencephaly, X-linked 1 (LISX1):
A classic lissencephaly characterized by mental retardation and seizures that are more severe in male patients. Affected boys show an abnormally thick cortex with absent or severely reduced gyri. Clinical manifestations include feeding problems, abnormal muscular tone, seizures and severe to profound psychomotor retardation. Female patients display a less severe phenotype referred to as 'doublecortex'.
Subcortical band heterotopia X-linked (SBHX):
SBHX is a mild brain malformation of the lissencephaly spectrum. It is characterized by bilateral and symmetric plates or bands of gray matter found in the central white matter between the cortex and cerebral ventricles, cerebral convolutions usually appearing normal.

PTM

Phosphorylation by MARK1, MARK2 and PKA regulates its ability to bind microtubules (By similarity). Phosphorylation at Ser-265 and Ser-297 seems to occur only in neonatal brain, the levels falling precipitously by postnatal day 21 (By similarity).
Ubiquitinated by MDM2, leading to its degradation by the proteasome. Ubiquitinated by MDM2 and subsequent degradation leads to reduce the dendritic spine density of olfactory bulb granule cells.