Syntaxin 16 is enriched in neuronal dendrites and may have a role in neurite outgrowth

Polarized membrane traffic to different domains of the neuron is well documented, and is required for both establishment and maintenance of neuronal polarity. Some soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, particularly syntaxin 12/13 and TI-VAMP/VAMP7, have known roles in the neuron. We report here that the brain-enriched SNARE syntaxin 16 (Syn 16) is specifically enriched in neuronal dendrites and found at Golgi outposts, thus confirming that Golgi outposts are endowed with a trans-Golgi network (TGN) component. Over-expression of wild type syntaxin 16 moderately stimulates, whereas that of an N-terminal deletion mutant (Syn 16-Delta Nt) inhibits, neurite outgrowth in both mouse Neuro-2a cells and primary cortical neurons. Consistent with an inhibited neurite growth, cells over-expressing Syn 16-Delta Nt have diminished beta III-tubulin and F-actin labeling. RNA interference-mediated silencing of syntaxin 16 in primary cortical neurons significantly retards neurite outgrowth. Syntaxin 16 may thus play a role in neurite outgrowth and perhaps other specific dendritic anterograde/retrograde traffic.