AUTHOR=Reim Dominik , Weis Tobias M. , Halbedl Sonja , Delling Jan Philipp , Grabrucker Andreas M. , Boeckers Tobias M. , Schmeisser Michael J. 

TITLE=The Shank3 Interaction Partner ProSAPiP1 Regulates Postsynaptic SPAR Levels and the Maturation of Dendritic Spines in Hippocampal Neurons

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/synaptic-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnsyn.2016.00013

DOI=10.3389/fnsyn.2016.00013

ISSN=1663-3563

ABSTRACT=<p>The postsynaptic density or PSD is a submembranous compartment containing a wide array of proteins that contribute to both morphology and function of excitatory glutamatergic synapses. In this study, we have analyzed functional aspects of the Fezzin ProSAP-interacting protein 1 (ProSAPiP1), an interaction partner of the well-known PSD proteins Shank3 and SPAR. Using lentiviral-mediated overexpression and knockdown of ProSAPiP1, we found that this protein is dispensable for the formation of both pre- and postsynaptic specializations <italic>per se</italic>. We further show that ProSAPiP1 regulates SPAR levels at the PSD and the maturation of dendritic spines. In line with previous findings on the ProSAPiP1 homolog PSD-Zip70, we conclude that Fezzins essentially contribute to the maturation of excitatory spine synapses.</p>