Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum

Summary: To establish highly precise patterns of neural connectivity, developing axons must stop growing at their appropriate destinations and specifically synapse with target cells. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these sequential steps remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate tha...

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Main Authors: Ken-ichiro Kuwako, Yoshinori Nishimoto, Satoshi Kawase, Hirotaka James Okano, Hideyuki Okano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2014-10-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124714007396
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author Ken-ichiro Kuwako
Yoshinori Nishimoto
Satoshi Kawase
Hirotaka James Okano
Hideyuki Okano
author_facet Ken-ichiro Kuwako
Yoshinori Nishimoto
Satoshi Kawase
Hirotaka James Okano
Hideyuki Okano
author_sort Ken-ichiro Kuwako
collection DOAJ
description Summary: To establish highly precise patterns of neural connectivity, developing axons must stop growing at their appropriate destinations and specifically synapse with target cells. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these sequential steps remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that cadherin-7 (Cdh7) plays a dual role in axonal growth termination and specific synapse formation during the development of the cerebellar mossy fiber circuit. Cdh7 is expressed in mossy fiber pontine nucleus (PN) neurons and their target cerebellar granule neurons during synaptogenesis and selectively mediates synapse formation between those neurons. Additionally, Cdh7 presented by mature granule neurons diminishes the growth potential of PN axons. Furthermore, knockdown of Cdh7 in PN neurons in vivo severely impairs the connectivity of PN axons in the developing cerebellum. These findings reveal a mechanism by which a single bifunctional cell-surface receptor orchestrates precise wiring by regulating axonal growth potential and synaptic specificity. : Spatiotemporally orchestrated mechanisms for terminating axonal growth and forming specific synapses are essential in establishing precise neural connectivity. Kuwako et al. demonstrate that cadherin-7 critically regulates the connectivity of the cerebellar mossy fiber circuit by mediating growth inhibition of innervating mossy fiber axons and selective synapse formation between mossy fiber neurons and cerebellar granule neurons. This study reveals that a single cell-surface receptor may play a dual role in axonal growth termination and synaptic specificity to develop precise wiring.
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spelling doaj.art-a29af3fcfcee4d31b677ae0d27ec449f2022-12-21T23:55:58ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472014-10-0191311323Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the CerebellumKen-ichiro Kuwako0Yoshinori Nishimoto1Satoshi Kawase2Hirotaka James Okano3Hideyuki Okano4Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Corresponding authorDepartment of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, JapanDepartment of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, JapanDivision of Regenerative Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, JapanDepartment of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Corresponding authorSummary: To establish highly precise patterns of neural connectivity, developing axons must stop growing at their appropriate destinations and specifically synapse with target cells. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these sequential steps remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that cadherin-7 (Cdh7) plays a dual role in axonal growth termination and specific synapse formation during the development of the cerebellar mossy fiber circuit. Cdh7 is expressed in mossy fiber pontine nucleus (PN) neurons and their target cerebellar granule neurons during synaptogenesis and selectively mediates synapse formation between those neurons. Additionally, Cdh7 presented by mature granule neurons diminishes the growth potential of PN axons. Furthermore, knockdown of Cdh7 in PN neurons in vivo severely impairs the connectivity of PN axons in the developing cerebellum. These findings reveal a mechanism by which a single bifunctional cell-surface receptor orchestrates precise wiring by regulating axonal growth potential and synaptic specificity. : Spatiotemporally orchestrated mechanisms for terminating axonal growth and forming specific synapses are essential in establishing precise neural connectivity. Kuwako et al. demonstrate that cadherin-7 critically regulates the connectivity of the cerebellar mossy fiber circuit by mediating growth inhibition of innervating mossy fiber axons and selective synapse formation between mossy fiber neurons and cerebellar granule neurons. This study reveals that a single cell-surface receptor may play a dual role in axonal growth termination and synaptic specificity to develop precise wiring.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124714007396
spellingShingle Ken-ichiro Kuwako
Yoshinori Nishimoto
Satoshi Kawase
Hirotaka James Okano
Hideyuki Okano
Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
Cell Reports
title Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
title_full Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
title_fullStr Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
title_full_unstemmed Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
title_short Cadherin-7 Regulates Mossy Fiber Connectivity in the Cerebellum
title_sort cadherin 7 regulates mossy fiber connectivity in the cerebellum
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124714007396
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AT satoshikawase cadherin7regulatesmossyfiberconnectivityinthecerebellum
AT hirotakajamesokano cadherin7regulatesmossyfiberconnectivityinthecerebellum
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