Purkinje Cell Protein 2 (PCP2)

Purkinje cell protein-2 (Pcp2 or L7) is highly expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells and retinal bipolar neurons and interacts with the Galpha(i/o) family of G-proteins. Although the expression pattern of Pcp2 in the developing central nervous system suggests a role in differentiation, its function remains unknown. Pcp2 was localized in the cell body and throughout neurites of differentiated PC12 cells, similar to its localization in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Pcp2 expression in PC12 cells stimulated process formation (5-fold) and NGF (nerve growth factor)-stimulated neurite length (2-fold). Under basal conditions, Pcp2-PC12 cells demonstrated a 5-fold increase in Ras activation relative to non-induced PC12 cells and there was no change in extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activity with Pcp2 expression.