Dendritic arbors of developing retinal ganglion cells are stabilized by beta 1-integrins.
The architecture of dendritic arbors is a defining characteristic of neurons and is established through a sequential but overlapping series of events involving process outgrowth and branching, stabilization of the global pattern, and synapse formation. To investigate the roles of cadherins and beta1-integrins in maintaining the global architecture of the arbor, we used membrane permeable peptides and transfection with dominant-negative constructs to disrupt adhesion molecule function in intact chick neural retina at a stage when the architecture of the ganglion cell (RGC) arbor is established but synapse formation is just beginning. Inactivation of beta1-integrins induces rapid dendrite retraction, with loss of dynamic terminal filopodia followed by resorption of major branches. Disruption of N-cadherin-beta-catenin interactions has no effect; however, dendrites do retract following perturbation of the juxtamembrane region of N-cadherin, which disrupts N-cadherin-mediated adhesion and initiates a beta1-integrin inactivating signal. Thus, developing RGC dendritic arbors are stabilized by beta1-integrin-dependent processes.
Marrs
Glen S
GS
Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Honda
Takashi
T
Fuller
Leah
L
Thangavel
Ramasamy
R
Balsamo
Janne
J
Lilien
Jack
J
Dailey
Michael E
ME
Arregui
Carlos
C
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003712:Dendrites / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D019012:Integrin beta1