Normal thyroid structure and function in rhophilin 2-deficient mice

Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Apr;25(7):2846-52. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.7.2846-2852.2005.

Abstract

Rhophilin 2 is a Rho GTPase binding protein initially isolated by differential screening of a chronically thyrotropin (TSH)-stimulated dog thyroid cDNA library. In thyroid cell culture, expression of rhophilin 2 mRNA and protein is enhanced following TSH stimulation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) transduction cascade. Yeast two-hybrid screening and coimmunoprecipitation have revealed that the GTP-bound form of RhoB and components of the cytoskeleton are protein partners of rhophilin 2. These results led us to suggest that rhophilin 2 could play an important role downstream of RhoB in the control of endocytosis during the thyroid secretory process which follows stimulation of the TSH/cAMP pathway. To validate this hypothesis, we generated rhophilin 2-deficient mice and analyzed their thyroid structure and function. Mice lacking rhophilin 2 develop normally, have normal life spans, and are fertile. They have no visible goiter and no obvious clinical signs of hyper- or hypothyroidism. The morphology of thyroid cells and follicles in these mice were normal, as were the different biological tests performed to investigate thyroid function. Our results indicate that rhophilin 2 does not play an essential role in thyroid physiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genotype
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / deficiency*
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / metabolism
  • Kidney / cytology
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Ovary / cytology
  • Ovary / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / deficiency*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Testis / cytology
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Thyroid Gland / cytology*
  • Thyroid Gland / metabolism
  • Thyroid Gland / physiology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Rhpn2 protein, mouse
  • rhophilin
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases