title: Fine-tuned SRF activity controls asymmetrical neuronal outgrowth: implications for cortical migration, neural tissue lamination and circuit assembly.
abstract: The stimulus-regulated transcription factor Serum Response Factor (SRF) plays an important role in diverse neurodevelopmental processes related to structural plasticity and motile functions, although its precise mechanism of action has not yet been established. To further define the role of SRF in neural development and distinguish between cell-autonomous and non cell-autonomous effects, we bidirectionally manipulated SRF activity through gene transduction assays that allow the visualization of individual neurons and their comparison with neighboring control cells. In vitro assays showed that SRF promotes survival and filopodia formation and is required for normal asymmetric neurite outgrowth, indicating that its activation favors dendrite enlargement versus branching. In turn, in vivo experiments demonstrated that SRF-dependent regulation of neuronal morphology has important consequences in the developing cortex and retina, affecting neuronal migration, dendritic and axonal arborization and cell positioning in these laminated tissues. Overall, our results show that the controlled and timely activation of SRF is essential for the coordinated growth of neuronal processes, suggesting that this event regulates the switch between neuronal growth and branching during developmental processes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scandaglia
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Cruz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morenilla-Palao
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorenza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Del Blanco
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Yaiza
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coca
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Eloísa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n. Sant Joan d'Alacant. 03550. Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism*; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D000066829:Neuroprotection; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways
chemical_list: D026362:Serum Response Factor