FLRT3 is expressed in sensory neurons after peripheral nerve injury and regulates neurite outgrowth.
We used a molecular screen to identify genes upregulated in regenerating adult rat dorsal root ganglion cells. FLRT3 mRNA and protein characterized by a fibronectin type III domain and a leucine-rich repeat motif was upregulated in damaged sensory neurons. The protein was then transported into their peripheral and central processes where the FLRT3 protein was localized to presynaptic axon terminals. In vitro, the FLRT3 protein was expressed at the cell surface, regulated neurite outgrowth in sensory neurons, but did not exhibit homophilic binding. FLRT3 was widely expressed in the developing embryo, particularly in the central nervous system and somites. However, in the adult, we found no evidence for accumulation or reexpression of the FLRT3 protein in damaged axons of the central nervous system. We conclude that FLRT3 codes for a putative cell surface receptor implicated in both the development of the nervous system and in the regeneration of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, UCL, London, UK.
M
M
Robinson
M C
MC
Parsons Perez
L
L
Tébar
J
J
Palmer
A
A
Patel
D
D
Marks
A
A
Sheasby
C
C
De Felipe
R
R
Coffin
F J
FJ
Livesey
S P
SP
Hunt
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C482091:FLRT3 protein, rat; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins