title: The stimulation of dendrite growth by Sema3A requires integrin engagement and focal adhesion kinase.
abstract: The rate and direction of axon and dendrite growth depend on multiple guidance signals and growth factors. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) acts as a repellent for axons and attractant for dendrites. Here, we show that the requirement for integrin engagement distinguishes the response of axons and dendrites to Sema3A in hippocampal neurons. Sema3A promotes the extension of hippocampal dendrites by a pathway that requires focal adhesion kinase (FAK). The stimulation of dendrite growth and FAK phosphorylation by Sema3A depend on integrin engagement. Unlike their function as a target of Sema3A during the collapse of axonal growth cones, integrins facilitate the stimulation of dendrite extension. Conditional inactivation of the genes encoding beta1 integrin or FAK blocks the growth-promoting effect of Sema3A but not the collapse of axonal growth cones. Our results demonstrate that different pathways mediate the stimulation of dendrite growth and the collapse of axonal growth cones by Sema3A.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeine Zoologie und Genetik, Westfalische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 5, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlomann
authors.forename: Jens C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schwamborn
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fässler
authors.forename: Andreas W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Püschel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011485:Protein Binding; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; C488217:Sema3a protein, mouse; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D006152:Cyclic GMP