TY - JOUR T1 - N-Cadherin Provides a Cis and Trans Ligand for Astrotactin that Functions in Glial-Guided Neuronal Migration JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/357541 SP - 357541 AU - Zachi Horn AU - Hourinaz Behesti AU - Mary E. Hatten Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/06/27/357541.abstract N2 - Prior studies demonstrate that Astrotactin (ASTN1) provides a neuronal receptor for glial-guided CNS migration. Here we report that ASTN1 binds N-cadherin (CDH2) and that the ASTN1:CDH2 interaction supports cell-cell adhesion. To test the function of ASTN1:CDH2 binding in glial-guided neuronal migration, we generated a conditional loss of Cdh2 in cerebellar granule cells and in glia. Granule cell migration was slowed in cerebellar slice cultures after a conditional loss of neuronal Cdh2, and more severe migration defects occurred after a conditional loss of glial Cdh2. Expression of a mutant form of ASTN1 that does not bind CDH2, in granule cells, also slowed migration. Moreover, in vitro chimeras of granule cells and glia showed impaired neuron-glia attachment in the absence of glial, but not neuronal, Cdh2. Thus, cis and trans bindings of ASTN1 to neuronal and glial CDH2 form an asymmetric neuron-glial bridge complex that promotes glial-guided neuronal migration. ER -