The scheduling of adolescence with Netrin-1 and UNC5C.

Dopamine axons are the only axons known to grow during adolescence. Here, using rodent models, we examined how two proteins, Netrin-1 and its receptor, UNC5C, guide dopamine axons toward the prefrontal cortex and shape behaviour. We demonstrate in mice (Mus musculus) that dopamine axons reach the cortex through a transient gradient of Netrin-1-expressing cells - disrupting this gradient reroutes axons away from their target. Using a seasonal model (Siberian hamsters; Phodopus sungorus) we find that mesocortical dopamine development can be regulated by a natural environmental cue (daylength) in a sexually dimorphic manner - delayed in males, but advanced in females. The timings of dopamine axon growth and UNC5C expression are always phase-locked. Adolescence is an ill-defined, transitional period; we pinpoint neurodevelopmental markers underlying this period.

The role of microtubule-associated protein tau in netrin-1 attractive signaling.

Direct binding of netrin receptors with dynamic microtubules (MTs) in the neuronal growth cone plays an important role in netrin-mediated axon guidance. However, how netrin-1 (NTN1) regulates MT dynamics in axon turning remains a major unanswered question. Here, we show that the coupling of netrin-1 receptor DCC with tau (MAPT)-regulated MTs is involved in netrin-1-promoted axon attraction. Tau directly interacts with DCC and partially overlaps with DCC in the growth cone of primary neurons. Netrin-1 induces this interaction and the colocalization of DCC and tau in the growth cone. The netrin-1-induced interaction of tau with DCC relies on MT dynamics and TUBB3, a highly dynamic ß-tubulin isotype in developing neurons. Netrin-1 increased cosedimentation of DCC with tau and TUBB3 in MTs, and knockdown of either tau or TUBB3 mutually blocked this effect. Downregulation of endogenous tau levels by tau shRNAs inhibited netrin-1-induced axon outgrowth, branching and commissural axon attraction in vitro, and led to defects in spinal commissural axon projection in vivo. These findings suggest that tau is a key MT-associated protein coupling DCC with MT dynamics in netrin-1-promoted axon attraction.

The scheduling of adolescence with Netrin-1 and UNC5C.

Dopamine axons are the only axons known to grow during adolescence. Here, using rodent models, we examined how two proteins, Netrin-1 and its receptor, UNC5C, guide dopamine axons towards the prefrontal cortex and shape behaviour. We demonstrate in mice ( Mus musculus ) that dopamine axons reach the cortex through a transient gradient of Netrin-1 expressing cells - disrupting this gradient reroutes axons away from their target. Using a seasonal model (Siberian hamsters; Phodopus sungorus ) we find that mesocortical dopamine development can be regulated by a natural environmental cue (daylength) in a sexually dimorphic manner - delayed in males, but advanced in females. The timings of dopamine axon growth and UNC5C expression are always phase-locked. Adolescence is an ill-defined, transitional period; we pinpoint neurodevelopmental markers underlying this period.

Chr21 protein-protein interactions: enrichment in proteins involved in intellectual disability, autism, and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by human chromosome 21 (HSA21) trisomy. It is characterized by a poorly understood intellectual disability (ID). We studied two mouse models of DS, one with an extra copy of the <i>Dyrk1A</i> gene (189N3) and the other with an extra copy of the mouse Chr16 syntenic region (Dp(16)1Yey). RNA-seq analysis of the transcripts deregulated in the embryonic hippocampus revealed an enrichment in genes associated with chromatin for the 189N3 model, and synapses for the Dp(16)1Yey model. A large-scale yeast two-hybrid screen (82 different screens, including 72 HSA21 baits and 10 rebounds) of a human brain library containing at least 10⁷ independent fragments identified 1,949 novel protein-protein interactions. The direct interactors of HSA21 baits and rebounds were significantly enriched in ID-related genes (<i>P</i>-value &lt; 2.29 × 10^-8). Proximity ligation assays showed that some of the proteins encoded by HSA21 were located at the dendritic spine postsynaptic density, in a protein network at the dendritic spine postsynapse. We located HSA21 DYRK1A and DSCAM, mutations of which increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 20-fold, in this postsynaptic network. We found that an intracellular domain of DSCAM bound either DLGs, which are multimeric scaffolds comprising receptors, ion channels and associated signaling proteins, or DYRK1A. The DYRK1A-DSCAM interaction domain is conserved in <i>Drosophila</i> and humans. The postsynaptic network was found to be enriched in proteins associated with ARC-related synaptic plasticity, ASD, and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. These results highlight links between DS and brain diseases with a complex genetic basis.

Disease-associated mutations in human TUBB3 disturb netrin repulsive signaling.

Missense mutations in the human TUBB3 gene cause a variety of neurological disorders associated with defects in axon guidance and neuronal migration, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Recent studies have shown that direct coupling of dynamic TUBB3 in microtubules with netrin receptors is required for netrin-1-mediated axon guidance, and the interaction of netrin-1 repulsive receptor UNC5C with TUBB3 is involved in netrin-1 mediated axonal repulsion. Here, we report that TUBB3 mutations perturb netrin-1/UNC5C repulsive signaling in the developing nervous system. Among twelve mutants reported in previous studies, five of them show significantly reduced interaction with UNC5C in comparison to the wild-type TUBB3. TUBB3 mutants R262C and R62Q exhibit decreased subcellular colocalization with UNC5C in the peripheral area of the growth cone of primary mouse neurons. Netrin-1 reduces the colocalization of UNC5C with wild-type TUBB3, but not TUBB3 mutants R262C or R62Q, in the growth cone. Results from the in vitro cosedimentation assay indicate that netrin-1 inhibits cosedimentation of UNC5C with polymerized microtubules in primary mouse neurons expressing the wild-type TUBB3, but not R262C or R62Q. Expression of either R262C or R62Q not only blocks netrin-1-induced growth cone collapse and axonal repulsion of primary EGL cells in vitro, but also results in axon projections defects of chicken dorsal root ganglion neurons in ovo. Our study reveals that human TUBB3 mutations specifically perturb netrin-1/UNC5C-mediated repulsion.

Effects of cage and floor rearing system on the factors of antioxidant defense and inflammatory injury in laying ducks.

BACKGROUND: Cage-rearing in laying ducks, as a novel rearing system, not only fundamentally solves the pollution problem of the duck industry and improve bio-safety and product quality but also exhibits more benefits by implementing standardized production compared with the floor-rearing. Of course, this system also brings some welfare problems and stress injuries to layers due to lack of water environment and limited activities in the cages. However, the effects on the factors of antioxidant defense and inflammatory injury in the early cage stage are not well-understood. RESULTS: In this study, eighty Shaoxing layers were reared on floor and in cages from 12 weeks of age. The ducks were caged 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10 days, the factors of antioxidant defense and inflammatory injury were investigated. The results showed that the caged ducks suffered liver injury to a certain extent when the ducks were just put into the cages. Analysis of antioxidant enzyme activities indicated that the different rearing system could not affect the change of antioxidant capacities, while the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significant higher in the 2-d, 7-d, and 10-d ducks compared with the 1-d ducks during the change of days, while catalase (CAT) activity showed the opposite results. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-RCR) revealed that the relative mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related gene (CHOP and GRP78) were significantly upregulated in cage rearing ducks compared to that of the floor rearing ducks. Moreover, the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6), were also increased significantly in caged layers. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, although antioxidant defense has no obvious effect on cage stress, the stress levels of laying ducks vary greatly in the early cage stage, which not only caused liver tissue damage to some extent, but also resulted in increases in the expression of the factors of inflammatory injury. Therefore, we recommend that anti-stress agents should be added in the feed to alleviate the stress in the early cage stage.

miR-92 Suppresses Robo1 Translation to Modulate Slit Sensitivity in Commissural Axon Guidance.

Temporospatial regulation of guidance signaling is essential for axon outgrowth and pathfinding in the developing nervous system. Regulation of Robo1 levels in commissural neurons modulates Slit sensitivity facilitating proper axon guidance. The mechanisms underlying this regulation in the vertebrate nervous system are not well understood. Here, we report that miR-92, a highly conserved microRNA (miRNA), regulates chicken Robo1 expression in commissural neurons by binding to the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of Robo1 mRNA. miR-92 and Robo1 are differentially expressed in the developing spinal cord. miR-92 interacts with the Robo1 3'UTR to cause translational repression, but not mRNA degradation. Disruption of the miR-92/Robo1 3' UTR interaction induces premature responsiveness to Slit2 repulsion of precrossing commissural axons (CAs) in vitro and causes CA projection defects in vivo. These results indicate that miR-92 represses Robo1 expression thereby regulating Slit sensitivity to control CA projection and midline crossing.

Human TUBB3 Mutations Disrupt Netrin Attractive Signaling.

Heterozygous missense mutations in human TUBB3 gene result in a spectrum of brain malformations associated with defects in axon guidance, neuronal migration and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying mutation-related axon guidance abnormalities are unclear. Recent studies have shown that netrin-1, a canonical guidance cue, induced the interaction of TUBB3 with the netrin receptor deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC). Furthermore, TUBB3 is required for netrin-1-induced axon outgrowth, branching and pathfinding. Here, we provide evidence that TUBB3 mutations impair netrin/DCC signaling in the developing nervous system. The interaction of DCC with most TUBB3 mutants (eight out of twelve) is significantly reduced compared to the wild-type TUBB3. TUBB3 mutants R262C and A302V exhibit decreased subcellular colocalization with DCC in the growth cones of primary neurons. Netrin-1 increases the interaction of endogenous DCC with wild-type human TUBB3, but not R262C or A302V, in primary neurons. Netrin-1 also increases co-sedimentation of DCC with polymerized microtubules (MTs) in primary neurons expressing the wild-type TUBB3, but not R262C or A302V. Expression of either R262C or A302V not only suppresses netrin-1-induced neurite outgrowth, branching and attraction in vitro, but also causes defects in spinal cord commissural axon (CA) projection and pathfinding in ovo. Our study reveals that missense TUBB3 mutations specifically disrupt netrin/DCC-mediated attractive signaling.

Uncoupling of UNC5C with Polymerized TUBB3 in Microtubules Mediates Netrin-1 Repulsion.

Modulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics is a key event of cytoskeleton remodeling in the growth cone (GC) during axon outgrowth and pathfinding. Our previous studies have shown that the direct interaction of netrin receptor DCC and DSCAM with polymerized TUBB3, a neuron-specific MT subunit in the brain, is required for netrin-1-mediated axon outgrowth, branching, and attraction. Here, we show that uncoupling of polymerized TUBB3 with netrin-1-repulsive receptor UNC5C is involved in netrin-1-mediated axonal repulsion. TUBB3 directly interacted with UNC5C and partially colocalized with UNC5C in the peripheral area of the GC of primary neurons from the cerebellar external granule layer of P2 mouse pups of both sexes. Netrin-1 reduced this interaction as well as the colocalization of UNC5C and TUBB3 in the GC. Results from the in vitro cosedimentation assay indicated that UNC5C interacted with polymerized TUBB3 in MTs and netrin-1 decreased this interaction. Knockdown of either TUBB3 or UNC5C blocked netrin-1-promoted axon repulsion in vitro and caused defects in axon projection of DRG toward the spinal cord in vivo Furthermore, live-cell imaging of end-binding protein 3 tagged with EGFP (EB3-GFP) in primary external granule layer cells showed that netrin-1 differentially increased MT dynamics in the GC with more MT growth in the distal than the proximal region of the GC during repulsion, and knockdown of either UNC5C or TUBB3 abolished the netrin-1 effect. Together, these data indicate that the disengagement of UNC5C with polymerized TUBB3 plays an essential role in netrin-1/UNC5C-mediated axon repulsion.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Proper regulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics in the growth cone plays an important role in axon guidance. However, whether guidance cues modulate MT dynamics directly or indirectly is unclear. Here, we report that dissociation of UNC5C and polymerized TUBB3, the highly dynamic ß-tubulin isoform in neurons, is essential for netrin-1/UNC5C-promoted axon repulsion. These results not only provide a working model of direct modulation of MTs by guidance cues in growth cone navigation but also help us to understand molecular mechanisms underlying developmental brain disorders associated with TUBB3 mutations.

Microtubule dynamics in axon guidance.

Precise modulation of the cytoskeleton is involved in a variety of cellular processes including cell division, migration, polarity, and adhesion. In developing post-mitotic neurons, extracellular guidance cues not only trigger signaling cascades that act at a distance to indirectly regulate microtubule distribution, and assembly and disassembly in the growth cone, but also directly modulate microtubule stability and dynamics through coupling of guidance receptors with microtubules to control growth-cone turning. Microtubule-associated proteins including classical microtubule-associated proteins and microtubule plus-end tracking proteins are required for modulating microtubule dynamics to influence growth-cone steering. Multiple key signaling components, such as calcium, small GTPases, glycogen synthase kinase-3ß, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, link upstream signal cascades to microtubule stability and dynamics in the growth cone to control axon outgrowth and projection. Understanding the functions and regulation of microtubule dynamics in the growth cone provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of axon guidance.

Direct binding of TUBB3 with DCC couples netrin-1 signaling to intracellular microtubule dynamics in axon outgrowth and guidance.

The coupling of axon guidance cues, such as netrin-1, to microtubule (MT) dynamics is essential for growth cone navigation in the developing nervous system. However, whether axon guidance signaling regulates MT dynamics directly or indirectly is unclear. Here, we report that TUBB3, the most dynamic ß-tubulin isoform in neurons, directly interacts with the netrin receptor DCC, and that netrin-1 induces this interaction in primary neurons. TUBB3 colocalizes with DCC in the growth cones of primary neurons and MT dynamics is required for netrin-1-promoted association of TUBB3 with DCC. Netrin-1 not only increases co-sedimentation of DCC with polymerized MT, but also promotes MT dynamics in the growth cone. Knocking down TUBB3 inhibits netrin-1-induced MT dynamics, axon outgrowth and attraction in vitro and causes defects in commissural axon projection in the embryo. These results indicate that TUBB3 directly links netrin signaling pathways to MT dynamics and plays an important role in guiding commissural axons in vivo.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) is required for coordination of netrin signaling in axon guidance.

The JNK family of MAPKs is involved in a large variety of physiological and pathological processes in brain development, such as neural survival, migration, and polarity as well as axon regeneration. However, whether JNK activation is involved in axon guidance remains unknown. Here, we provide evidence indicating the JNK pathway is required for Netrin signaling in the developing nervous system. Netrin-1 increased JNK1, not JNK2 or JNK3, activity in the presence of deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) or Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM), and expression of both of them further enhanced Netrin-1-induced JNK1 activity in vitro. Inhibition of JNK signaling either by a JNK inhibitor, SP600125, or expression of a dominant negative form of MKK4, a JNK upstream activator, blocked Netrin-1-induced JNK1 activation in HEK293 cells. Netrin-1 increased endogenous JNK activity in primary neurons. Netrin-1-induced JNK activation was inhibited either by the JNK inhibitor or an anti-DCC function-blocking antibody. Combination of the anti-DCC function-blocking antibody with expression of DSCAM shRNA in primary neurons totally abolished Netrin-1-induced JNK activation, whereas knockdown of DSCAM partially inhibited the Netrin-1 effect. In the developing spinal cord, phospho-JNK was strongly expressed in commissural axons before and as they crossed the floor plate, and Netrin-1 stimulation dramatically increased the level of endogenous phospho-JNK in commissural axon growth cones. Inhibition of JNK signaling either by JNK1 RNA interference (RNAi) or the JNK inhibitor suppressed Netrin-1-induced neurite outgrowth and axon attraction. Knockdown of JNK1 in ovo caused defects in spinal cord commissural axon projection and pathfinding. Our study reveals that JNK1 is important in the coordination of DCC and DSCAM in Netrin-mediated attractive signaling.

Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) associates with uncoordinated-5C (UNC5C) in netrin-1-mediated growth cone collapse.

In the developing nervous system, neuronal growth cones explore the extracellular environment for guidance cues, which can guide them along specific trajectories toward their targets. Netrin-1, a bifunctional guidance cue, binds to deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and DSCAM mediating axon attraction, and UNC5 mediating axon repulsion. Here, we show that DSCAM interacts with UNC5C and this interaction is stimulated by netrin-1 in primary cortical neurons and postnatal cerebellar granule cells. DSCAM partially co-localized with UNC5C in primary neurons and brain tissues. Netrin-1 induces axon growth cone collapse of mouse cerebellum external granule layer (EGL) cells, and the knockdown of DSCAM or UNC5C by specific shRNAs or blocking their signaling by overexpressing dominant negative mutants suppresses netrin-1-induced growth cone collapse. Similarly, the simultaneous knockdown of DSCAM and UNC5C also blocks netrin-1-induced growth cone collapse in EGL cells. Netrin-1 increases tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous DSCAM, UNC5C, FAK, Fyn, and PAK1, and promotes complex formation of DSCAM with these signaling molecules in primary postnatal cerebellar neurons. Inhibition of Src family kinases efficiently reduces the interaction of DSCAM with UNC5C, FAK, Fyn, and PAK1 and tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins as well as growth cone collapse of mouse EGL cells induced by netrin-1. The knockdown of DSCAM inhibits netrin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of UNC5C and Fyn as well as the interaction of UNC5C with Fyn. The double knockdown of both receptors abolishes the induction of Fyn tyrosine phosphorylation by netrin-1. Our study reveals the first evidence that DSCAM coordinates with UNC5C in netrin-1 repulsion.

Shp2 acts downstream of SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 in guiding granule cell migration during cerebellar development.

Shp2 is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase containing two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains that is implicated in intracellular signaling events controlling cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. To examine the role of Shp2 in brain development, we created mice with Shp2 selectively deleted in neural stem/progenitor cells. Homozygous mutant mice exhibited early postnatal lethality with defects in neural stem cell self-renewal and neuronal/glial cell fate specification. Here we report a critical role of Shp2 in guiding neuronal cell migration in the cerebellum. In homozygous mutants, we observed reduced and less foliated cerebellum, ectopic presence of external granule cells and mispositioned Purkinje cells, a phenotype very similar to that of mutant mice lacking either SDF-1alpha or CXCR4. Consistently, Shp2-deficient granule cells failed to migrate toward SDF-1alpha in an in vitro cell migration assay, and SDF-1alpha treatment triggered a robust induction of tyrosyl phosphorylation on Shp2. Together, these results suggest that although Shp2 is involved in multiple signaling events during brain development, a prominent role of the phosphatase is to mediate SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 signal in guiding cerebellar granule cell migration.

DSCAM functions as a netrin receptor in commissural axon pathfinding.

Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) is required for axon guidance and dendrite arborization. How DSCAM functions in vertebrates is not well understood. Here we show that DSCAM is expressed on commissural axons and interacts with Netrin-1, a prototypical guidance cue for commissural axons. The knockdown of DSCAM by specific siRNA or blockage of DSCAM signaling by overexpression of a mutant lacking its intracellular domain inhibits netrin-induced axon outgrowth and commissural axon turning in vitro. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of DSCAM in ovo causes defects in commissural axon projection and pathfinding. In transfected cells, DSCAM by itself, in the absence of DCC, is capable of mediating netrin signaling in activating phosphorylation of Fyn and Pak1. These findings demonstrate an essential role of vertebrate DSCAM in axon guidance, indicating that DSCAM functions as a receptor of netrin-1. Our data suggest previously unexpected complexity in receptors that mediate vertebrate netrin signaling.

Netrin signal transduction and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK180 in attractive signaling.

Netrins are prototypical axon guidance cues whose attractive signaling requires the small GTPase Rac1. It remains unclear how Rac1 is regulated in the netrin pathway. DOCK180 is a member of a new family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho GTPases. Here we provide evidence implicating DOCK180 in netrin signal transduction. Netrin promoted the formation of a protein-protein interaction complex that included DOCK180 and the netrin receptor deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC). Inhibition of DOCK180 reduced activation of Rac1 by netrin. Both axon outgrowth and axon attraction induced by netrin were inhibited after DOCK180 knockdown in vertebrate neurons. The in vivo functional role of DOCK180 was demonstrated by its requirement for projection of commissural axons in the neural tube. These findings indicate that netrin stimulation recruits DOCK180 through DCC, which then activates small GTPases, suggesting an essential role for DOCK180 in mediating attractive responses by neurons to netrin-1.

p130CAS is required for netrin signaling and commissural axon guidance.

Netrins are an important family of axon guidance cues. Here, we report that netrin-1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(CAS) (Crk-associated substrate). Our biochemical studies indicate that p130(CAS) is downstream of the Src family kinases and upstream of the small GTPase Rac1 and Cdc42. Inhibition of p130(CAS) signaling blocks both the neurite outgrowth-promoting activity and the axon attraction activity of netrin-1. p130(CAS) RNA interference inhibits the attraction of commissural axons in the spinal cord by netrin-1 and causes defects in commissural axon projection in the embryo. These results demonstrate that p130(CAS) is a key component in the netrin signal transduction pathway and plays an important role in guiding commissural axons in vivo.

Triphenyl benzene-bridged fluorescent silsesquioxane: shape-controlled hybrid silicas by hydrolytic conditions.

A new silsesquioxane molecule was synthesized, in which triphenyl benzene was connected with three Si(OC2H5)3 groups using three urea groups as the bridge. The molecule could self-assemble through the intermolecular H-bonding among urea groups and pi-pi interaction of triphenyl benzene core in the solution and it could also be transferred into hybrid silicas by hydrolysis. When the non-preorganized silsesquioxane was hydrolyzed, isolated spherical hybrid silica was gained. However, when the silsesquioxane was preorganized before the hydrolyzation uniform interconnected spherical hybrid silica and intertwined nanofibrous one could be generated under acidic and basic conditions, respectively. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the obtained hybrid silicas showed that they still kept the emission properties of their precursor silsesquioxane, and the shift of the emission bands was due to the pi-pi interaction of triphenyl benzene in the course of polycondensation.

Generation of CdS nano-necklaces and NiS nanotubes templated by sugar-appended hydrogel.

A new hydrogel based on glucose-appended Schiff base derivative has been employed as the template to synthesize CdS and NiS nanostructures with different morphologies. The FT-IR and UV-vis results revealed that H-bonding and pi-pi interaction played important roles in the formation of original hydrogel fibers. The study of mineralization mechanism suggested that the inorganic ions were firstly adsorbed at the surface of the hydrogel fibers due to the hydrophilic affinity with the hydrophilic glucose groups. With the penetration of H2S gas, the preformed CdS or NiS nanoparticles on the surface of the fibers acted as the growing points for the continuous growth. And the different adsorption abilities of the metal ions at the hydrogel fibers resulted in the formation of CdS nano-necklaces and NiS nanotubes.