title: Shared and distinct functions of RAGS and ELF-1 in guiding retinal axons.
abstract: Two ligands for Eph-related receptor tyrosine kinases, RAGS and ELF-1, have been implicated in the control of development of the retinotectal projection. Both molecules are expressed in overlapping gradients in the tectum, the target area of retinal ganglion cell axons. In two in vitro assays ELF-1 is shown to have a repellent axon guidance function for temporal, but apparently not for nasal axons. RAGS on the other hand is repellent for both types of axons, though to different degrees. Thus, RAGS and ELF-1 share some and differ in other properties. The biological activities of these molecules correlate with the strength of interaction with their receptors expressed on RGC axons. The meaning of these findings for guidance of retinal axons in the tectum is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monschau
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kremoser
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Handwerker
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hornberger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Löschinger
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Siever
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Verderame
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonhoeffer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Drescher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D019556:COS Cells; D002642:Chick Embryo; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036383:Ephrin-A2; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C512897:ELF1 protein, human; C512896:Elf1 protein, mouse; D036383:Ephrin-A2; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases