Seminar by Prof. Hisanaga: HCdk5 regulates the transport of Rab11-positive endosomes in neurites through LMTK1 and GRAB

Title: “Cdk5 regulates the transport of Rab11-positive endosomes in neurites through LMTK1 and GRAB”

Speaker: Prof. Shin-ichi Hisanaga

Affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan

Abstract:

Cdk5 is a unique member of cyclin-dependent kinase family, which is expressed predominantly in post-mitotic neurons. Cdk5 is a multifunctional Ser/Thr kinase involving in many neuronal activities including neuronal migration during brain development, synaptic transmission, and neurodegenerative diseases. One of its functions is neurite outgrowth. Previous studied show its involvement in neurite outgrowth through regulation of cytoskeletons. In contrast, Cdk5 is a membrane bound kinase, and regulates vesicle transports. We recently reported two of Cdk5 substrates, LMTK1 and GRAB, which regulate neurite outgrowth upstream and downstream of Rab11 GTPase in neurons. I will introduce what LMTK1 and GRAB are and how they regulate vesicle transport in axon of cultured neurons.

Brief Academic Background:

1971-1975 B.S. The University of Tokyo, Department of Biochem. and Biophys.

1975-1978 M.S. The University of Tokyo, Department of Biochem. and Biophys.

1978-1982 Ph.D. The University of Tokyo, Department of Biochem. and Biophys.

1982-1985; Research Fellow, Division of Cell Proliferation, National Institute for Basic Biology

1985-1990; Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology

1990-1997; Associate Professor, Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

1997-present; Professor, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Uni