Proteomic analysis of Girdin-interacting proteins in migrating new neurons in the postnatal mouse brain.

Abstract Neural stem cells continuously generate new neurons in the ventricular–subventricular zone (V–SVZ) of the postnatal and adult mammalian brain. New neurons born in the rodent V–SVZ migrate toward the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into interneurons. To reveal novel intracellular molecular mechanisms that control postnatal neuronal migration, we performed a global proteomic search for proteins interacting with Girdin, an essential protein for postnatal neuronal migration. Using GST pull-down and LC–MS/MS shotgun analysis, we identified cytoskeletal proteins, cytoskeleton-binding proteins, and signal-transduction proteins as possible participants in neuronal migration. Our results suggest that Girdin and Girdin-interacting proteins control neuronal migration by regulating actin and/or microtubule dynamics.