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Endoglycan plays a role in axon guidance by modulating cell adhesion
Thomas Baeriswyl1, Alexandre Dumoulin1, Martina Schaettin1
1Department of Molecular Life Sciences and Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Elife
|March 2, 2021
Summary
Endoglycan, a sialomucin, is crucial for axon guidance in chicken embryos. It negatively regulates cell adhesion, ensuring proper navigation of commissural axons in the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Axon navigation relies on guidance cues and growth cone receptors.
- Cell-cell adhesion also plays a role in guiding neuronal growth cones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Endoglycan in axon guidance.
- To determine if Endoglycan functions as a guidance cue, receptor, or modulator of cell adhesion.
Main Methods:
- In vitro experiments to assess growth cone adhesion.
- In vivo studies in chicken embryos to observe axon navigation.
- Analysis of Endoglycan's function in the central nervous system.
Main Results:
- Endoglycan is not an axon guidance cue or receptor.
- Endoglycan reduces growth cone adhesion, acting as a negative regulator.
- Absence of Endoglycan leads to improper navigation of commissural axons at the spinal cord midline.
Conclusions:
- Endoglycan is a negative regulator of cell-cell adhesion.
- This regulation is essential for commissural axon guidance in the central nervous system.
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