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11:49
Protocol for Culturing Sympathetic Neurons from Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia (SCG)
Published on: January 30, 2009
RGM and its receptor neogenin regulate neuronal survival
Eiji Matsunaga1, Servane Tauszig-Delamasure, Philippe P Monnier
1UMR CNRS 7102, Université Paris 6, 9 Quai Saint Bernard, 75005 Paris, France.
Nature Cell Biology
|July 20, 2004
Summary
Repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) normally guides axons. Without RGM, the neogenin receptor triggers neuronal cell death, revealing RGM
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) is a known axon guidance protein.
- RGM interacts with the neogenin receptor to repel retinal axons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo functions of RGM-neogenin complexes in neural development.
- To understand the role of neogenin signaling in the developing neural tube.
Main Methods:
- Gene transfer technology was employed in chick embryo neural tubes.
- Expression levels of neogenin and RGM were manipulated.
- Apoptosis and caspase activity were assessed in neuronal cells and neural tubes.
Main Results:
- Neogenin overexpression or RGM downregulation induced apoptosis in the neural tube.
- Neogenin's pro-apoptotic activity was linked to caspase-mediated cleavage of its cytoplasmic domain.
- This effect was observed in both immortalized neuronal cells and in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Neogenin functions as a dependence receptor, inducing cell death in the absence of RGM.
- RGM binding to neogenin inhibits its pro-apoptotic signaling.
- This highlights a novel mechanism for regulating neuronal survival during development.
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