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The lasting effects of neuronal activity on brain developmentinvolve calcium-dependent gene expression. Using a strategycalled transactivator trap, we cloned a calcium-responsive transactivatorcalled CREST (for calcium-responsive transactivator). CRESTis a SYT-related nuclear protein that interacts with adenosine3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) response element–binding protein(CREB)–binding protein (CBP) and is expressed in the developingbrain. Mice that have a targeted disruption of the crest geneare viable but display defects in cortical and hippocampal dendritedevelopment. Cortical neurons from crest mutant mice are compromisedin calcium-dependent dendritic growth. Thus, calcium activationof CREST-mediated transcription helps regulate neuronal morphogenesis.
Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Present address: Division of Biology, University of California,San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aghosh{at}ucsd.edu
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Present address: Division of Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. 
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: 
