MARCKS regulates membrane targeting of Rab10 vesicles to promote axon development

Axon development requires membrane addition from the intracellular supply, which has been shown to be mediated by Rab10-positive plasmalemmal precursor vesicles (PPVs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the membrane trafficking processes of PPVs remain unclear. Here, we show that myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) mediates membrane targeting of Rab10-positive PPVs, and this regulation is critical for axon development. We found that the GTP-locked active form of Rab10 binds to membrane-associated MARCKS, whose affinity depends on the phosphorylation status of the MARCKS effector domain. Either genetic silencing of MARCKS or disruption of its interaction with Rab10 inhibited axon growth of cortical neurons, impaired docking and fusion of Rab10 vesicles with the plasma membrane, and consequently caused a loss of membrane insertion of axonal receptors responsive to extracellular axon growth factors. Thus, this study has identified a novel function of MARCKS in mediating membrane targeting of PPVs during axon development.