Netrin-1 induces axon branching in developing cortical neurons by frequency-dependent calcium signaling pathways.
A single axon can innervate multiple targets by collateral branching. Axon branching is thus essential for establishing CNS connectivity. However, surprisingly little is known about the mechanisms by which branching is regulated. Axons often stop elongating before branches develop and anatomical and molecular data suggest that axon branching occurs independent of axon outgrowth. We found that netrin-1 dramatically increases cortical axon branching. Here, we sought to identify intracellular signaling components involved in netrin-1-induced axon branching. Using live cell imaging of dissociated developing cortical neurons, we show that netrin-1 rapidly increases the frequency of repetitive calcium transients. These transients are often restricted to small regions of the axon. Simultaneous imaging of calcium activity and development of axon branches revealed that Ca2+ transients coincide spatially and temporally with protrusion of branches from the axon. Remarkably, fully formed branches with motile growth cones could develop de novo within 20 min. Netrin-1-induced Ca2+ transients involve release from intracellular stores and Ca2+ signaling is essential for netrin-1-induced axon branching. Using techniques to overexpress or suppress kinase activity, we find that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are major downstream targets of the netrin-1 calcium signaling pathway and are required for axon branching. CaMKII, but not MAPK, is also involved in axon outgrowth. The role of CaMKII and MAPKs in axon branching is consistent with the sensitivity of these kinases to changes in the frequency Ca2+ transients. Together, these novel findings define calcium signaling mechanisms required for development of new axon branches promoted by a guidance cue.
Tang
Fangjun
F
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Kalil
Katherine
K
D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D002645:Chickens; D006224:Cricetinae; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
C507812:AIPII peptide; D002070:Butadienes; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D005419:Flavonoids; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009570:Nitriles; D010455:Peptides; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C113580:U 0126; C063302:KN 62; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D003620:Dantrolene; D009543:Nifedipine; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one