R-esp1, a rat homologue of Drosophila Groucho, is differentially expressedafter optic nerve crush and mediates NGF-induced survival of PC12 cells

The differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction me thod was used to detect alterations in gene expression in the superior coll iculus after optic nerve crush in adult rats, One of the most prominent cha nges observed was the selective induction of R-esp1, a homologue of the Dro saphila enhancer of split locus (Groucho), Therefore, eve studied the influ ence of R-esp1 on nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced cell survival of PC12 c ells, Overexpression of R-esp1 promotes cell survival even in the absence o f NGF and, conversely, it is reduced by antisense-mediated inhibition of R- esp1 expression, In conclusion, wet propose a novel model in which R-esp1 p rotein mediates the NGF-signaling pathway. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.