|
 |
|
|
| Subject Categories: Development | Neuroscience |
|
| The EMBO Journal
(2005) 24, 1477–1488, doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600621 Published online 17 March 2005 |
|
| Maintenance of neuronal positions in organized ganglia by SAX-7, a Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of L1 |
|
|
| Hiroyuki Sasakura1, Hitoshi Inada1, Atsushi Kuhara1, Eri Fusaoka2, Daisuke Takemoto2, Kosei Takeuchi2, 3 and Ikue Mori1, 4 |
|
|
1 Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan 2 Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan 3 KAN Research Institute, Kyoto, Japan 4 Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan To whom correspondence should be addressed Ikue Mori, Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan. Tel.: +81 52 789 4560; Fax: +81 52 789 4558; E-mail: m46920a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp Received 27 May 2004; Accepted 17 February 2005; Published online 17 March 2005. |
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
| The L1 family of cell adhesion molecules is predominantly expressed in the nervous system. Mutations in human L1 cause neuronal diseases such as HSAS, MASA, and SPG1. Here we show that sax-7 gene encodes an L1 homologue in Caenorhabditis elegans. In sax-7 mutants, the organization of ganglia and positioning of neurons are abnormal in the adult stage, but these abnormalities are not observed in early larval stage. Misplacement of neurons in sax-7 mutants is triggered by mechanical force linked to body movement. Short and long forms of SAX-7 exhibited strong and weak homophilic adhesion activities in in vitro aggregation assay, respectively, which correlated with their different activities in vivo. SAX-7 was localized on plasma membranes of neurons in vivo. Expression of SAX-7 only in a single neuron in sax-7 mutants cell-autonomously restored its normal neuronal position. Expression of SAX-7 in two different head neurons in sax-7 mutants led to the forced attachment of these neurons. We propose that both homophilic and heterophilic interactions of SAX-7 are essential for maintenance of neuronal positions in organized ganglia. |
|
| Keywords: C. elegans, L1 family, neuronal adhesion, neuronal placement, organization of ganglia |
|
|
|
Top of page MORE ARTICLES LIKE THISThese links to content published by NPG are automatically generated RESEARCHDissecting a circuit for olfactory behaviour in Caenorhabditis elegans Nature Article (01 Nov 2007) Diverse regulation of sensory signaling by C. elegans nPKC-epsilon/eta TTX-4 The EMBO Journal Article (15 Jun 2005) The EMBO Journal Article (10 Mar 2004) Nature Neuroscience Article (01 Nov 2002) |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
 | Email link to a friend |
| |
 | Download PDF |
| |
 | Full text |
| |
| |
| |
 | Next article |
| |
 | Previous article |
| |
 | Table of contents |
| |
| |
 | Rights and permissions |
| |
 | Reprints |
| |
| |
| |
 Register for table of contents by email | |
| |
| |
| |