LOCALIZATION OF A NOVEL SEPTIN PROTEIN, HCDCREL-1, IN NEURONS OF HUMAN BRAIN

SYNAPTIC function is critical for cell-cell communication and the char acterization of proteins that function during vesicle formation, trans port and fusion events will yield further insight into the mechanisms of synaptic transmission. We have cloned and characterized a gene prod uct expressed in human brain called hCDCrel-1. This protein is a new m ember of the septin family of gene products that functions during cyto kinesis in lower eukaryotes. In this study we characterize the express ion of the hCDCrel-1 gene and localize the hCDCrel-1 protein to neuron s in adult human brain. hCDCrel-1 co-purifies with SNAP-25 and synapto physin marked synaptosomes, suggesting a novel function for this gene family in the brain. Our data indicate that members of the septin fami ly of proteins may function in synaptic vesicle transport, fusion or r ecycling events in the human brain. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wil kins.