Disruption of the MacMARCKS gene prevents cranial neural tube closure and results in anencephaly

Jianmin Chen, Sandy Chang, Stephen A. Duncan, Hirotaka J. Okano, Gord Fishell, Alan Aderem

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

MacMARCKS is a member of the MARCKS family of protein kinase C (PKC) substrates. Biochemical evidence demonstrates that these proteins integrate calcium and PKC-dependent signals to regulate actin structure at the membrane. We report here that deletion of the MacMARCKS gene prevents cranial neural tube closure in the developing brain, resulting in anencephaly. This suggests a central role for MacMARCKS and the PKC signal transduction pathway in the folding of the anterior neural plate during the early phases of brain formation, and supports the hypothesis that actin-based motility directs cranial neural tube closure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6275-6279
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 25 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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