Drebin/A0438

Drebrin, also known as A0438, is one of the actin-binding proteins that are developmentally regulated in the process of neuronal growth and aid in dendritic spine formation.

Drebrin, also known as A0438, is one of the actin-binding proteins that are developmentally regulated in the process of neuronal growth and aid in dendritic spine formation. Drebrin is located in the post-synaptic terminals of adult brain tissue and is thought to play a role in synaptic plasticity. Over-expressing drebrin in hippocampal neurons destabilizes mature dendritic spines so that they lose synaptic contacts and come to resemble immature dendritic filopodia. Drebrin-induced spine destabilization is dependent on Ras activation. Drebrin expression has been shown to be significantly decreased in the temporal and frontal cortex of both Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients compared to controls. It has been suggested that decreased drebrin in DS and AD may represent loss of spine plasticity and impaired dendritic arborization, which may underlie cognitive dysfunction.