RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cbln1 regulates axon growth and guidance in multiple neural regions
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.11.16.468844
DO 10.1101/2021.11.16.468844
A1 Peng Han
A1 Yuanchu She
A1 Zhuoxuan Yang
A1 Mengru Zhuang
A1 Qingjun Wang
A1 Xiaopeng Luo
A1 Chaoqun Yin
A1 Junda Zhu
A1 Samie R. Jaffrey
A1 Sheng-Jian Ji
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/11/16/2021.11.16.468844.abstract
AB The accurate construction of neural circuits requires the precise control of axon growth and guidance, which is regulated by multiple growth and guidance cues during early nervous system development. It is generally thought that the growth and guidance cues that control the major steps of axon guidance have been defined. Here, we describe cerebellin-1 (Cbln1) as a novel cue that controls diverse aspects of axon growth and guidance throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Cbln1 has previously been shown to function in late neural development to influence synapse organization. Here we find that Cbln1 has an essential role in early neural development. Cbln1 is expressed on the axons and growth cones of developing commissural neurons and functions in an autocrine manner to promote axon growth. Cbln1 is also expressed in intermediate target tissues and functions as an attractive guidance cue. We find that these functions of Cbln1 are mediated by neurexin-2 (Nrxn2), which functions as the Cbln1 receptor for axon growth and guidance. In addition to the developing spinal cord, we further show that Cbln1 functions in diverse parts of the CNS with major roles in cerebellar parallel fiber growth and retinal ganglion cell axon guidance. Despite the prevailing role of Cbln1 as a synaptic organizer, our study discovers a new and unexpected function for Cbln1 as a general axon growth and guidance cue throughout the nervous system.Impact statement Despite the prevailing role of Cbln1 as a synaptic organizer, our study discovers a new and unexpected function for Cbln1 as a general axon growth and guidance cue throughout the nervous system.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.