Neuro-p24 plays an essential role in neurite extension: antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of neurite extension in cultured DRG neurons and neuroblastoma cells.

Neuro-p24 is a novel neuronal membrane protein that is specifically localized in neural processes, particularly in growing neurites. To explore the roles of Neuro-p24, we examined the immunocytochemical localization of this protein in cultured neurons during neural induction, and performed an antisense oligonucleotide transfection using two culture models, the mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the neuro2a neuroblastoma cell line. Intense Neuro-p24 immunoreactivity was observed in the soma and small vesicles in neurites at the early stage of culture, but it gradually disappeared as cultures proceeded.