Neuronal responses to myelin are mediated by rho kinase

CNS myelin inhibits axon growth due to the expression of several growth-inhibitory proteins, including myelin-associated glycoprotein, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein and Nogo. Myelin-associated inhibitory proteins activate rho GTPase in responsive neurons. Rho kinase (ROCK) has been implicated as a critical rho effector in this pathway due to the ability of the pharmacological inhibitor Y-27632 to circumvent myelin-dependent inhibition. Y-27632, however, inhibits the activity of additional kinases. Using three independent approaches, we provide direct evidence that ROCKII is activated in response to the myelin-associated inhibitor Nogo. We demonstrate that Nogo treatment enhances ROCKII translocation to the cellular membrane in PC12 cells and enhances ROCKII kinase activity towards an in vitro substrate. In addition, Nogo treatment enhances phosphorylation of myosin light chain II, a known ROCK substrate. Further, we demonstrate that primary dorsal root ganglia neurons can be rendered insensitive to the inhibitory effects of myelin via infection with dominant negative ROCK. Together these data provide direct evidence for a rho-ROCK-myosin light chain-II signaling cascade in response to myelin-associated inhibitors.