title: Discoidin domain receptor 1 functions in axon extension of cerebellar granule neurons.
abstract: In the developing cerebellum, granule neuron axon outgrowth is a key step toward establishing proper connections with Purkinje neurons, the principal output neuron of the cerebellum. During a search for genes that function in this process, we identified a receptor tyrosine kinase discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) expressed in granule cells throughout their development. Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of DDR1 in immature granule cells results in severe reduction of neurite outgrowth in vitro, in dissociated primary culture, and in vivo, in organotypic slices of neonatal cerebellum. Granule cells that fail to extend axons are positive for differentiation markers such as TAG-1 and the neuron-specific class III beta-tubulin, suggesting that development is affected after granule cells commit to terminal differentiation. DDR1 activation appears to be mediated by its ligand, collagen, which is localized to the pial layer of the developing cerebellum, thereby leading to granule cell parallel fiber extension. Our results therefore indicate that collagen-DDR1 signaling is essential for granule neuron axon formation and further suggest a unique role of pia in cerebellar cortex histogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021-6399, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomoda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hatten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D058969:Contactin 2; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C548675:Cntn2 protein, mouse; D058969:Contactin 2; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D014404:Tubulin; D014443:Tyrosine; D003094:Collagen; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases