Disease relevance of SSPO

• To correlate SCO-spondin molecular feature and function, we tested the effect of oligopeptides, whose sequences include highly conserved amino acids of the consensus domains on a neuroblastoma cell line B 104 [1].
• SCO-spondin interferes with several developmental processes, including neuronal survival, neurite extension, neuronal aggregation, and fasciculation [2].

High impact information on SSPO

• From the ClustalW alignment of bovine (Bos taurus), human (Homo sapiens), murine (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) proteins, a consensus sequence for mammalian SCO-spondin was determined and further validated with the dog (Canis familiaris) SCO-spondin sequence [3].
• With the advance of the systematic whole genomes sequencing, we were able to determine the SCO-spondin amino acid sequence in four mammalian species using the Wise2 software [3].
• SCO-spondin is a large glycoprotein secreted by ependymal cells of the subcommissural organ [2].
• The thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR) and neuronal differentiation: roles of SCO-spondin oligopeptides on neuronal cell types and cell lines [2].
• The possibility of SCO-spondin involvement in neuronal development as a component of the extracellular matrix is discussed regarding these molecular features [4].

Biological context of SSPO

• The analysis of this consensus sequence is consistent with a very high degree of conservation in the amino acids composition and multidomain organization of SCO-spondin in mammals [3].
• Moreover, agenesis of the SCO is associated with downregulation of SCO-spondin expression as early as E14.5 of embryonic development [5].
• The ependymal cells of the subcommissural organ and SCO-spondin secretion are suspected to play a crucial role in cerebrospinal fluid flow and/or homeostasis [6].
• From a panel of short chain fatty acid derivatives, we showed that 2,2-dimethyl-butyrate (ST20) and alpha-methylhydrocinnamic acid (ST7), exhibiting high oral bioavailability and sustained plasma levels, correct the DeltaF508-CFTR defect [7].

Anatomical context of SSPO

• SCO-spondin corresponds to glycoproteins secreted by the subcommissural organ (SCO), an ependymal differentiation of the vertebrate brain located at the entrance to the Sylvian aqueduct [4].
• Furthermore, SCO-spondin makes part of Reissner's fiber (RF), a thread-like structure present in the central canal of the spinal cord [1].
• Thus, SCO-spondin is a favorable substrate for neurite outgrowth and may participate in the posterior commissure formation and spinal cord differentiation during ontogenesis of the central nervous system [1].
• SCO-spondin is evolutionarily conserved in the central nervous system of the chordate phylum [8].

Associations of SSPO with chemical compounds

• Subcommissural organ/Reissner's fiber complex: characterization of SCO-spondin, a glycoprotein with potent activity on neurite outgrowth [1].

Other interactions of SSPO

• These include the F-spondin gene family, the members of the semaphorin 5 family, UNC-5, SCO-spondin, and others [9].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of SSPO

• The putative involvement of SCO-spondin in neuron/glia interaction in the course of development is assessed in various cell culture systems [2].

References