The scaffold protein, Homer1b/c, regulates axon pathfinding in the central nervous system in vivo.
Homer proteins are a family of multidomain cytosolic proteins that have been postulated to serve as scaffold proteins that affect responses to extracellular signals by regulating protein-protein interactions. We tested whether Homer proteins are involved in axon pathfinding in vivo, by expressing both wild-type and mutant isoforms of Homer in Xenopus optic tectal neurons. Time-lapse imaging demonstrated that interfering with the ability of endogenous Homer to form protein-protein interactions resulted in axon pathfinding errors at stereotypical choice points. These data demonstrate a function for scaffold proteins such as Homer in axon guidance. Homer may facilitate signal transduction from cell-surface receptors to intracellular proteins that govern the establishment of axon trajectories.
Foa
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.
Rajan
I
I
Haas
K
K
Wu
G Y
GY
Brakeman
P
P
Worley
P
P
Cline
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D018274:Electroporation; D006579:Heterozygote; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008024:Ligands; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D009479:Neuropeptides