title: Synapse Formation in Monosynaptic Sensory-Motor Connections Is Regulated by Presynaptic Rho GTPase Cdc42.
abstract: Spinal reflex circuit development requires the precise regulation of axon trajectories, synaptic specificity, and synapse formation. Of these three crucial steps, the molecular mechanisms underlying synapse formation between group Ia proprioceptive sensory neurons and motor neurons is the least understood. Here, we show that the Rho GTPase Cdc42 controls synapse formation in monosynaptic sensory-motor connections in presynaptic, but not postsynaptic, neurons. In mice lacking Cdc42 in presynaptic sensory neurons, proprioceptive sensory axons appropriately reach the ventral spinal cord, but significantly fewer synapses are formed with motor neurons compared with wild-type mice. Concordantly, electrophysiological analyses show diminished EPSP amplitudes in monosynaptic sensory-motor circuits in these mutants. Temporally targeted deletion of Cdc42 in sensory neurons after sensory-motor circuit establishment reveals that Cdc42 does not affect synaptic transmission. Furthermore, addition of the synaptic organizers, neuroligins, induces presynaptic differentiation of wild-type, but not Cdc42-deficient, proprioceptive sensory neurons in vitro Together, our findings demonstrate that Cdc42 in presynaptic neurons is required for synapse formation in monosynaptic sensory-motor circuits.
  
  
  
  Group Ia proprioceptive sensory neurons form direct synapses with motor neurons, but the molecular mechanisms underlying synapse formation in these monosynaptic sensory-motor connections are unknown. We show that deleting Cdc42 in sensory neurons does not affect proprioceptive sensory axon targeting because axons reach the ventral spinal cord appropriately, but these neurons form significantly fewer presynaptic terminals on motor neurons. Electrophysiological analysis further shows that EPSPs are decreased in these mice. Finally, we demonstrate that Cdc42 is involved in neuroligin-dependent presynaptic differentiation of proprioceptive sensory neurons in vitro These data suggest that Cdc42 in presynaptic sensory neurons is essential for proper synapse formation in the development of monosynaptic sensory-motor circuits.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology.
authors.forename: Fumiyasu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 45435.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ladle
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, and.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, and.
authors.forename: Tilat A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, and.
authors.forename: Georgianne M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ciraolo
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, and.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology, yutaka.yoshida@cchmc.org.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0664-0888
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000071437:Axon Guidance / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: DRG; axon guidance; motor neuron; proprioceptive sensory neuron; spinal cord; synapse formation