GFRalpha 1 is required for development of distinct subpopulations of motoneuron.
Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its relative neurturin (NTN) are potent trophic factors for motoneurons. They exert their biological effects by activating the RET tyrosine kinase in the presence of a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked co-receptor, either GFRalpha1 or GFRalpha2. By whole-mount in situ hybridization on embryonic mouse spinal cord, we demonstrate that whereas Ret is expressed by nearly all motoneurons, Gfra1 and Gfra2 exhibit complex and distinct patterns of expression. Most motoneurons purified from Gfra1 null mutant mice had lost their responsiveness to both GDNF and NTN. However, a minority of them ( approximately 25%) retained their ability to respond to both factors, perhaps because they express GFRalpha2. Surprisingly, Gfra2(-/-) motoneurons showed normal survival responses to both GDNF and NTN. Thus, GFRalpha1, but not GFRalpha2, is absolutely required for the survival response of a majority of motoneurons to both GDNF and NTN. In accordance with the phenotype of the mutant motoneurons observed in culture we found the loss of distinct groups of motoneurons, identified by several markers, in the Gfra1(-/-) spinal cords but no gross defects in the Gfra2(-/-) mutant. During their natural programmed cell death period, motoneurons in the Gfra1(-/-) mutant mice undertook increased apoptosis. Taken together these findings support the existence of subpopulations of motoneuron with different trophic requirements, some of them being dependent on the GDNF family.
Garcès
A
A
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U.382, France.
Haase
G
G
Airaksinen
M S
MS
Livet
J
J
Filippi
P
P
deLapeyrière
O
O
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051101:Neurturin; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; C494988:Gfra1 protein, mouse; C494991:Gfra2 protein, mouse; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051101:Neurturin; C495056:Nrtn protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila; C494999:Ret protein, mouse