Specific function of B-Raf in mediating survival of embryonic motoneurons and sensory neurons.
Embryonic sensory and motoneurons depend on neurotrophic factors for survival. Here we show that their survival requires B-Raf, which, in this function, cannot be substituted by C-Raf. Sensory and motoneurons from b-raf-deficient mice do not respond to neurotrophic factors for their survival. However, these primary neurons can be rescued by transfection of a b-raf expression plasmid. In contrast, c-raf-deficient neurons survive in response to neurotrophic factors, similarly to neurons from wild-type mice. This points to an essential and specific function of B-Raf in mediating survival of sensory and motoneurons during development.
Wiese
S
S
Klinische Forschergruppe Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurology, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str.11, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Pei
G
G
Karch
C
C
Troppmair
J
J
Holtmann
B
B
Rapp
U R
UR
Sendtner
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf