Date of Award
6-19-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Guo-Lei Zhou
Committee Members
Jennifer Xie; Jianfeng Xu
Abstract
The peripheral nervous system relays signals between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, and peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies can cause permanent neurological deficits. Schwann cells (SCs) are glial cells that myelinate neurons, which is essential for neuronal function and nerve repair. CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) is best characterized as an actin-regulating protein, while it also regulates other cellular processes, including matrix adhesion, migration, and proliferation. We discovered that cAMP-induced CAP1 dephosphorylation regulates relevant cell functions. While cAMP is also important for SC function and myelination, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We silenced CAP1 in SCs, including RSC96 and IMS32, using RNAi, which significantly altered cell-matrix adhesion and proliferation. Consistently, CAP1-knockdown cells showed remarkable changes in the activities of Rap1, FAK, and ERK. Furthermore, activation of cAMP signaling induced CAP1 dephosphorylation, stimulated Rap1/FAK/ERK signaling, and promoted adhesion and proliferation, whereas CAP1 depletion compromised these effects.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Karmoker, Jarna, "CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) Mediates the cAMP Regulation of Adhesion and Proliferation of Schwann Cells in the Peripheral Nervous System" (2026). Student Theses and Dissertations. 1187.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/1187
