The cloning of growth associated protein 43 of Gekko japonicus and its effect on cell morphology.

The growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) gene of Gekko japonicus was obtained from a brain and spinal cord cDNA library. The results of northern blot analysis showed the gecko GAP-43 gene transcript is 1.7 kb in length, and it was abundantly expressed in tissues of brain, spinal cord and ovary. Gecko GAP-43 promoted the outgrowth of Gsn3 cells and PC12 cell in vitro, and phosphorylation at serine 42 modulated the effect of GAP-43 on cell spreading and morphology. The change in GAP-43 expression in the spinal cord after tail amputation was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The level of GAP-43 in the spinal cord was increased during the time course we examined, indicating a possible correlation between GAP-43 expression and the spinal cord injury and regeneration.