Illustration from Scientific Research

The model shows molecular mechanisms underlying the rhotekin2 and syndapin I phenotypes identified in both mitochondrial size changes and in proper mitochondrial positioning and tethering accompanying dendritic branch initiation in developing neurons. Drawn is a dendritic segment of a developing neuron undergoing branch induction. Rhotekin2 serves as important mitochondrial anchor point for association with syndapin I a protein that shapes membranes and accumulates at the plasma membrane of dendritic branch induction sites. The syndapin I molecules depicted represent dimers formed by self-association of syndapin Is F-BAR domain leaving the SH3 domains free for interactions, such as with the KRAP motif in rhotekin2 (but presumably also with further syndapin binding partners, such as the cytoskeletal components Cobl and Cobl-like or dynamin2, which may act as a pinchase in mitochondrial dynamics).

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