CLIP-115, A NOVEL BRAIN-SPECIFIC CYTOPLASMIC LINKER PROTEIN, MEDIATESTHE LOCALIZATION OF DENDRITIC LAMELLAR BODIES

Intracellular localization of organelles may depend in part on specifi c cytoplasmic linker proteins (CLIPs) that link membranous organelles to microtubules. Here, we characterize rat cDNAs encoding a novel, bra in-specific CLIP of 115 kDa. This protein contains two M-terminal micr otubule-binding domains and a long coiled-coil region; it binds to mic rotubules and is homologous to CLIP-170, a protein mediating the bindi ng of endosomes to microtubules. CLIP-115 is enriched in the dendritic lamellar body (DLB), a recently discovered organelle predominantly pr esent in bulbous dendritic appendages of neurons linked by dendrodendr itic gap junctions. Local microtubule depolymerization leads to a temp orary reduction of DLBs. These results suggest that CLIP-115 operates in the control of brain-specific organelle translocations.