Analysis of gene expression in Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion 2 (Cadps2) knockout cerebellum using GeneChip and KEGG pathways.

In the mouse cerebellum, Ca 2+ -dependent activator protein for secretion 2 (CADPS2, CAPS2) is involved in regulated secretion from dense-core vesicles (DCVs), which contain neuropeptides including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). Capds2 knockout (KO) mice show impaired cerebellar development in addition to autistic-like behavioral phenotypes. To understand the molecular impact caused by loss of Capds2 , we analyzed gene expression profiles in the Capds2 KO cerebellum using a GeneChip microarray and the KEGG Pathway database. Significant differential expression was observed in 1211 of 22,690 (5.34%) genes represented on the chip. The expression levels of exocytosis-related genes ( Stx5a, Syt6 ), genes encoding secretory ( Fgf2, Fgf4, Edn2 ) and synaptic proteins ( Grin2b, Gabbr1 ), neurotrophin signaling-associated genes ( Sos1, Shc1, Traf6, Psen2 ), and a gene for Rett syndrome ( Mecp2 ) were significantly changed. Taken together, these results suggest that deregulated gene expression caused by loss of Capds2 may cause developmental deficits and/or pathological symptoms, resulting in autistic-like phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]