title: Necl-4/SynCAM-4 is expressed in myelinating oligodendrocytes but not required for axonal myelination.
abstract: The timing and progression of axonal myelination are precisely controlled by intercellular interactions between neurons and glia in development. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that Nectin like 4 (Necl-4, also known as cell adhesion molecule Cadm-4 or SynCAM-4) plays an essential role in axonal myelination by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). However, the role of Necl-4 protein in axonal myelination in the developing central nervous system (CNS) has remained unknown. In this study, we discovered upregulation of Necl-4 expression in mature oligodendrocytes at perinatal stages when axons undergo active myelination. We generated Necl4 gene knockout mice, but found that disruption of Necl-4 gene did not affect oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation in the CNS. Surprisingly, disruption of Necl-4 had no significant effect on axonal myelination in the PNS either. Therefore, our results demonstrated that Necl-4 is dispensable for axonal myelination in the developing nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kehan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jinsil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.forename: Boqin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.forename: Jiangang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Mengsheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015870:Gene Expression; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000090322:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C498598:Cadm1 protein, mouse; C498600:Igsf4b protein, mouse; C498602:Igsf4c protein, mouse; C494786:Olig1 protein, mouse