Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2025
09:46
Analyzing Murine Schwann Cell Development Along Growing Axons
Published on: November 21, 2012
11.6K
Dock1 functions in Schwann cells to regulate development, maintenance, and repair
1The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, OR, USA.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|March 19, 2025
Summary
Dock1 protein is essential for peripheral nervous system myelin development, maintenance, and repair in both zebrafish and mice. Its interaction with Rac1 signaling is crucial for these processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Peripheral Nervous System Research
Background:
- Schwann cells are glial cells responsible for myelinating the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
- Dock1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, regulates Rac1 activity and is known to be involved in developmental myelination.
- Previous studies in zebrafish indicated Dock1's role in developmental myelination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Dock1 in myelin maintenance and repair after injury in adult zebrafish.
- To determine if Dock1's function in peripheral myelin is evolutionarily conserved in mice.
- To elucidate the interaction between Dock1 and Rac1 signaling in Schwann cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing zebrafish models to study myelin maintenance and remyelination post-injury.
- Employing genetic and pharmacological manipulations of Rac1 in larval zebrafish.
- Analyzing active Rac1 levels in Dock1 mutant mouse nerves.
- Investigating cell-autonomous functions of Dock1 in mouse Schwann cells.
Main Results:
- Dock1 is demonstrated to be necessary for myelin maintenance and remyelination following injury in adult zebrafish.
- Dock1 plays a conserved role in mice, regulating Schwann cell-autonomous myelin development, maintenance, and repair.
- An interaction between Dock1 and Rac1 signaling was identified in both zebrafish and mouse models.
Conclusions:
- Dock1 is critical for the development, maintenance, and repair of peripheral myelin.
- The interplay between Dock1 and Rac1 signaling in Schwann cells is essential for establishing, maintaining, and facilitating repair and remyelination in the PNS.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
685
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
685
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
2.0K
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
2.0K
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
4.2K
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
4.2K
01:04Glial Cells
86.0K
Overview
86.0K
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
2.9K
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
2.9K
01:22Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
2.2K
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
2.2K