Cereblon is expressed in the retina and binds to voltage-gated chloride channels

Abstract 

The function of the central nervous system depends on the correct regulation of ion channels by interacting proteins. Here, we identified cereblon as a new interactor of the voltage-gated chloride channel ClC-2. A distal region of the ClC-2 C-terminus interacts with the Lon domain of cereblon. Cereblon is expressed in several brain regions including the retina. There, we detected cereblon in nuclear and synaptic layers and localized the protein in the same subcellular region of bipolar cell bodies previously reported to express ClC-2. Our data suggest that cereblon might be associated with voltage-gated chloride channels in the central nervous system.

Structured summary

MINT-6823070: CIC-2 (uniprotkb:O54822) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CRBN (uniprotkb:Q0P564) by two hybrid (MI:0018) MINT-6823160, MINT-6823197: CIC-2 (uniprotkb:O54822) physically interacts (MI:0218) with CRBN (uniprotkb:Q56AP7) by pull down (MI:0096) MINT-6823105: CIC-2 (uniprotkb:O54822) physically interacts (MI:0218) with IK (uniprotkb:A4FUY8) by two hybrid (MI:0018)

Abbreviations: CBS, cystathione b-synthase, ClC, voltage-gated chloride channel, CNS, central nervous system, CRBN, cereblon, EF1α, elongation factor 1α, β-Gal, β-galactosidase, GCL, ganglion cell layer, GST, glutathione S-transferase, INL, inner nuclear layer, IPL, inner plexiform layer, ONL, outer nuclear layer, OPL, outer plexiform layer, PRS, photoreceptor segments

Keywords: Cereblon, CIC-1, CIC-2, Protein interaction, Retina, CRBN