Essential and distinct roles for cdc42 and rac1 in the regulation of Schwann cell biology during peripheral nervous system development.
During peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelination, Schwann cells must interpret extracellular cues to sense their environment and regulate their intrinsic developmental program accordingly. The pathways and mechanisms involved in this process are only partially understood. We use tissue-specific conditional gene targeting to show that members of the Rho GTPases, cdc42 and rac1, have different and essential roles in axon sorting by Schwann cells. Our results indicate that although cdc42 is required for normal Schwann cell proliferation, rac1 regulates Schwann cell process extension and stabilization, allowing efficient radial sorting of axon bundles.
Benninger
Yves
Y
Institute of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Thurnherr
Tina
T
Pereira
Jorge A
JA
Krause
Sven
S
Wu
Xunwei
X
Chrostek-Grashoff
Anna
A
Herzog
Dominik
D
Nave
Klaus-Armin
KA
Franklin
Robin J M
RJ
Meijer
Dies
D
Brakebusch
Cord
C
Suter
Ueli
U
Relvas
João B
JB
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
D009479:Neuropeptides; C484602:Rac1 protein, mouse; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein