Article abstract
Nature Neuroscience 11, 262 - 268 (2008)
Published online: 17 February 2008 | doi:10.1038/nn2053
Retrograde regulation of motoneuron differentiation by muscle 
-catenin
Xiao-Ming Li1,2,3, Xian-Ping Dong1,3, Shi-Wen Luo1, Bin Zhang1, Dae-Hoon Lee1, Annie K L Ting1, Hannah Neiswender1, Chang-Hoon Kim1, Ezekiel Carpenter-Hyland1, Tian-Ming Gao2, Wen-Cheng Xiong1 & Lin Mei1,2
Abstract
Synapse formation requires proper interaction between pre- and postsynaptic cells. In anterograde signaling, neurons release factors to guide postsynaptic differentiation. However, less is known about how postsynaptic targets retrogradely regulate presynaptic differentiation or function. We found that muscle-specific conditional knockout of 
-catenin (Ctnnb1, also known as 
-cat) in mice caused both morphologic and functional defects in motoneuron terminals of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). In the absence of muscle -catenin, acetylcholine receptor clusters were increased in size and distributed throughout a wider region. Primary nerve branches were mislocated, whereas secondary or intramuscular nerve branches were elongated and reduced in number. Both spontaneous and evoked neurotransmitter release was reduced at the mutant NMJs. Furthermore, short-term plasticity and calcium sensitivity of neurotransmitter release were compromised in -catenin–deficient muscle. In contrast, the NMJ was normal in morphology and function in motoneuron-specific -catenin–deficient mice. Taken together, these observations indicate a role for muscle -catenin in presynaptic differentiation and function, identifying a previously unknown retrograde signaling in the synapse formation and synaptic plasticity.
- Program of Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, 1023 S Shatai Road, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Lin Mei1,2 e-mail: lmei@mcg.edu
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