Masakazu Miyajima

Cyclin E is expressed in neurons and forms complexes with cdk5.

&NA; Expression of cyclin dependent kinase cdk5 and its regulator p35 has been shown in the cytoplasm of adult neurons. Here we demonstrate that another potential regulator of cdk5, cyclin E, is expressed in the nervous system and forms complexes with cdk5. Western blot analyses identifies expression of two forms of cyclin E in the mouse nervous system with the 56 kDa form mainly expressed in neurons and 51 kDa form expressed in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

OVEREXPRESSION OF E2F1 IN ASTROCYTES LEADS TO NEOPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGES IN EXPRESSION OF RETINOBLASTOMA FAMILY MEMBERS

Overexpression of mouse E2F1 full‐length but not truncated forms results in neoplastic transformation of astrocytes in vitro. This neoplastic transformation is accompanied with changes in cell morphology and expression of cell cycle regulators. Transformed astrocytes have higher expression of cdk2, pRb, and p107 than control astrocytes. However, expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and p130 is reduced in transformed astrocytes.