The nogo receptor family restricts synapse number in the developing hippocampus.
Neuronal development is characterized by a period of exuberant synaptic growth that is well studied. However, the mechanisms that restrict this process are less clear. Here we demonstrate that glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell-surface receptors of the Nogo Receptor family (NgR1, NgR2, and NgR3) restrict excitatory synapse formation. Loss of any one of the NgRs results in an increase in synapse number in vitro, whereas loss of all three is necessary for abnormally elevated synaptogenesis in vivo. We show that NgR1 inhibits the formation of new synapses in the postsynaptic neuron by signaling through the coreceptor TROY and RhoA. The NgR family is downregulated by neuronal activity, a response that may limit NgR function and facilitate activity-dependent synapse development. These findings suggest that NgR1, a receptor previously shown to restrict axon growth in the adult, also functions in the dendrite as a barrier that limits excitatory synapse number during brain development.
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Zachary P
ZP
Wills
Caleigh
C
Mandel-Brehm
Alan R
AR
Mardinly
Alejandra E
AE
McCord
Roman J
RJ
Giger
Michael E
ME
Greenberg
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003712:Dendrites / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051528:Guanylate Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000070816:Nogo Receptor 1; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501447:Dlg4 protein, mouse; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D000070816:Nogo Receptor 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C419790:Rtn4r protein, mouse; C409471:Tnfrsf19 protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D051528:Guanylate Kinases; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C402565:glutamate decarboxylase 1