title: Essential role of B-Raf in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination during postnatal central nervous system development.
abstract: Mutations in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, particularly in the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) activator B-Raf, are associated with human tumorigenesis and genetic disorders. Hence, B-Raf is a prime target for molecule-based therapies, and understanding its essential biological functions is crucial for their success. B-Raf is expressed preferentially in cells of neuronal origin. Here, we show that in mice, conditional ablation of B-Raf in neuronal precursors leads to severe dysmyelination, defective oligodendrocyte differentiation, and reduced ERK activation in brain. Both B-Raf ablation and chemical inhibition of MEK impair oligodendrocyte differentiation in vitro. In glial cell cultures, we find B-Raf in a complex with MEK, Raf-1, and kinase suppressor of Ras. In B-Raf-deficient cells, more Raf-1 is recruited to MEK, yet MEK/ERK phosphorylation is impaired. These data define B-Raf as the rate-limiting MEK/ERK activator in oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination and have implications for the design and use of Raf inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gergana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galabova-Kovacs
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catalanotti
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matzen
authors.forename: Gloria X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zezula
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.forename: Alcino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C482120:Braf protein, mouse; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1