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  • Title: A role for dystrophin-associated glycoproteins and utrophin in agrin-induced AChR clustering.
    Author: Campanelli JT, Roberds SL, Campbell KP, Scheller RH.
    Journal: Cell; 1994 Jun 03; 77(5):663-74. PubMed ID: 8205616.
    Abstract:
    Synapse formation is characterized by the accumulation of molecules at the site of contact between pre- and postsynaptic cells. Agrin, a protein implicated in the regulation of this process, causes the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). Here we characterize an agrin-binding site on the surface of muscle cells, show that this site corresponds to alpha-dystroglycan, and present evidence that alpha-dystroglycan is functionally related to agrin activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that alpha-dystroglycan and adhalin, components of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex, as well as utrophin, colocalize with agrin-induced AChR clusters. Thus, agrin may function by initiating or stabilizing a synapse-specific membrane cytoskeleton that in turn serves as a scaffold upon which synaptic molecules are concentrated.
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