Inhibition of motor axon growth by T-cadherin substrata.
As spinal motor neurons project to their hindlimb targets, their growth cones avoid particular regions along their pathway. T-cadherin is discretely distributed in the avoided caudal sclerotome and on extrasynaptic muscle surfaces (B. J. Fredette and B. Ranscht (1994) J. Neurosci. 14, 7331-7346), and therefore, the ability of T-cadherin to inhibit neurite growth was tested in vitro. T-cadherin inhibited neurite extension from select neuron populations both as a substratum, and as a soluble recombinant protein. Anti-T-cadherin antibodies neutralized the inhibition. Spinal motor neurons were inhibited only during the stages of axon growth across the sclerotome and muscle innervation. Inhibitory responses corresponded to neuronal T-cadherin expression, suggesting a homophilic binding mechanism. These results suggest that T-cadherin is a negative guidance cue for motor axon projections.
The Burnham Institute, La Jolla Cancer Research Center, CA 92037, USA.
B J
BJ
Fredette
J
J
Miller
B
B
Ranscht
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
D015820:Cadherins; C099972:H-cadherin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins