scholarly journals The C. elegans gene vab-8 guides posteriorly directed axon outgrowth and cell migration

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 671-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wightman ◽  
S.G. Clark ◽  
A.M. Taskar ◽  
W.C. Forrester ◽  
A.V. Maricq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Body Axis ◽  
Axon Outgrowth ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
C Elegans

The assembly of the nervous system in the nematode C. elegans requires the directed migrations of cells and growth comes along the anteroposterior and dorsoventral body axis. We show here that the gene vab-8 is essential for most posteriorly directed migrations of cells and growth cones. Mutations in vab-8 disrupt fourteen of seventeen posteriorly directed migrations, but only two of seventeen anteriorly directed and dorsoventral migrations. For two types of neurons that extend axons both anteriorly and posteriorly, vab-8 mutations disrupt only the growth of the posteriorly directed axon. vab-8 encodes two genetic activities that function in the guidance of different migrations. Our results suggest that most posteriorly directed cell and growth cone migrations are guided by a common mechanism involving the vab-8 gene.

Genes that guide growth cones along the C. elegans ventral nerve cord

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (13) ◽  
pp. 2571-2580 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wightman ◽  
R. Baran ◽  
G. Garriga
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Ventral Nerve Cord ◽  
System Development ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Nerve Bundle ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Bundle Structure

During nervous system development, growth cone pioneering and fasciculation contribute to nerve bundle structure. Pioneer growth cones initially navigate along neuroglia to establish an axon scaffold that guides later extending growth cones. In C. elegans, the growth cone of the PVPR neuron pioneers the left ventral nerve cord bundle, providing a path for the embryonic extensions of the PVQL and AVKR growth cones. Later during larval development, the HSNL growth cone follows cues in the left ventral nerve cord bundle provided by the PVPR and PVQL axons. Here we show that mutations in the genes enu-1, fax-1, unc-3, unc-30, unc-42 and unc-115 disrupt pathfinding of growth cones along the left ventral nerve cord bundle. Our results indicate that unc-3 and unc-30 function in ventral nerve cord pioneering and that enu-1, fax-1, unc-42 and unc-115 function in recognition of the PVPR and PVQL axons by the AVKR and HSNL growth cones.

Pioneer neurones use basal lamina as a substratum for outgrowth in the embryonic grasshopper limb

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Anderson ◽  
R.P. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Horseradish Peroxidase ◽  
Basal Lamina ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Axon Outgrowth ◽  
Stages Of Development

During axonogenesis, contacts made by the growth cone with its substratum are important in guiding the direction of neurone outgrowth. This study examines the contacts made by the growth cones of pioneer neurones in the embryonic grasshopper limb. Individual pioneer neurones at different stages of development were injected with horseradish peroxidase and the contacts made by the filopodia at the tip of their growth cones were examined by electron microscopy. Filopodia made few contacts with mesodermal cells, some contacts with ectodermal cells and very frequent contacts with basal lamina underlying the ectoderm. Components of the basal lamina may therefore play a role in guiding pioneer axon outgrowth.

scholarly journals RHO-1 and the Rho GEF RHGF-1 interact with UNC-6/Netrin signaling to regulate growth cone protrusion and microtubule organization in C. elegans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahekta R. Gujar ◽  
Aubrie M. Stricker ◽  
Erik A. Lundquist
Keyword(s):  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Microtubule Organization ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Guidance Cue ◽  
Rho Gef

AbstractUNC-6/Netrin is a conserved axon guidance cue that directs growth cone migrations in the dorsal-ventral axis of C. elegans and in the vertebrate spinal cord. UNC-6/Netrin is expressed in ventral cells, and growth cones migrate ventrally toward or dorsally away from UNC-6/Netrin. Recent studies of growth cone behavior during outgrowth in vivo in C. elegans have led to a polarity/protrusion model in directed growth cone migration away from UNC-6/Netrin. In this model, UNC-6/Netrin first polarizes the growth cone via the UNC-5 receptor, leading to dorsally biased protrusion and F-actin accumulation. UNC-6/Netrin then regulates protrusion based on this polarity. The receptor UNC-40/DCC drives protrusion dorsally, away from the UNC-6/Netrin source, and the UNC-5 receptor inhibits protrusion ventrally, near the UNC-6/Netrin source, resulting in dorsal migration. UNC-5 inhibits protrusion in part by excluding microtubules from the growth cone, which are pro-protrusive. Here we report that the RHO-1/RhoA GTPase and its activator GEF RHGF-1 inhibit growth cone protrusion and MT accumulation in growth cones, similar to UNC-5. However, growth cone polarity of protrusion and F-actin were unaffected by RHO-1 and RHGF-1. Thus, RHO-1 signaling acts specifically as a negative regulator of protrusion and MT accumulation, and not polarity. Genetic interactions suggest that RHO-1 and RHGF-1 act with UNC-5, as well as with a parallel pathway, to regulate protrusion. The cytoskeletal interacting molecule UNC-33/CRMP was required for RHO-1 activity to inhibit MT accumulation, suggesting that UNC-33/CRMP might act downstream of RHO-1. In sum, these studies describe a new role of RHO-1 and RHGF-1 in regulation of growth cone protrusion by UNC-6/Netrin.Author SummaryNeural circuits are formed by precise connections between axons. During axon formation, the growth cone leads the axon to its proper target in a process called axon guidance. Growth cone outgrowth involves asymmetric protrusion driven by extracellular cues that stimulate and inhibit protrusion. How guidance cues regulate growth cone protrusion in neural circuit formation is incompletely understood. This work shows that the signaling molecule RHO-1 acts downstream of the UNC-6/Netrin guidance cue to inhibit growth cone protrusion in part by excluding microtubules from the growth cone, which are structural elements that drive protrusion.

scholarly journals RACK1 is required for axon guidance and local translation at growth cone point contacts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Kershner ◽  
Taylor Bumbledare ◽  
Paige Cassidy ◽  
Samantha Bailey ◽  
Kristy Welshhans
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Axon Growth ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Scaffolding Protein ◽  
Local Translation ◽  
Point Contacts ◽  
Adhesion Sites ◽  
Actin Mrna ◽  
Developing Nervous System

AbstractLocal translation regulates the formation of appropriate connectivity in the developing nervous system. However, the localization and molecular mechanisms underlying this translation within growth cones is not well understood. Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is a multi-functional ribosomal scaffolding protein that interacts with β-actin mRNA. We recently showed that RACK1 localizes to and regulates the formation of point contacts, which are adhesion sites that control growth cone motility. This suggests that local translation occurs at these adhesion sites that are important for axonal pathfinding, but this has not been investigated. Here, we show that RACK1 is required for BDNF-induced local translation of β-actin mRNA in growth cones. Furthermore, the ribosomal binding function of RACK1 regulates point contact formation, and axon growth and guidance. We also find that local translation of β-actin occurs at point contacts. Taken together, we show that adhesions are a targeted site of local translation within growth cones, and RACK1 is critical to the formation of point contacts and appropriate neural development. These data provide further insight into how and where local translation is regulated, and thereby leads to appropriate connectivity formation in the developing nervous system.

Use of calcium imaging technologies to dissect mechanisms underlying neuronal growth cone responses to environmental cues

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 804-805
Author(s):  
C.V. Williams ◽  
S.B. Kater
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Neuronal Growth ◽  
Growth Inhibitory ◽  
Direct Growth ◽  
Neuronal Growth Cone ◽  
Mechanical Factors ◽  
Growth Promoting

Since calcium is a key second messenger in both the developmental formation and adult function of the nervous system, the ability to rapidly image changes in this molecule has added greatly to our understanding of how development of the nervous system is regulated. The nervous system is comprised of billions of neurons and glial cells that establish characteristic patterns of connections during development. Neurons extend processes that often must grow long distances to establish appropriate synaptic connections. Neurons perform a pathfinding behavior largely via the highly dynamic behavior of the neuronal growth cone at the distal tip of elongating processes. The motile behavior characteristic of growth cones allows the growth cone to survey the local environment, read local cues and respond to those cues with a change in behavior. A variety of cues are now known to direct growth cones (e.g. electrical activity, depolarization, growth factors, mechanical factors, neurotransmitters, substrate factors). This collection of factors includes both growth promoting and growth inhibitory influences.

Growth cones stall and collapse during axon outgrowth in Caenorhabditis elegans

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (20) ◽  
pp. 4489-4498 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M. Knobel ◽  
E.M. Jorgensen ◽  
M.J. Bastiani
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Body Wall ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
The Body ◽  
Axon Outgrowth ◽  
Attachment Structures ◽  
Dorsal Nerve

During nervous system development, neurons form synaptic contacts with distant target cells. These connections are formed by the extension of axonal processes along predetermined pathways. Axon outgrowth is directed by growth cones located at the tips of these neuronal processes. Although the behavior of growth cones has been well-characterized in vitro, it is difficult to observe growth cones in vivo. We have observed motor neuron growth cones migrating in living Caenorhabditis elegans larvae using time-lapse confocal microscopy. Specifically, we observed the VD motor neurons extend axons from the ventral to dorsal nerve cord during the L2 stage. The growth cones of these neurons are round and migrate rapidly across the epidermis if they are unobstructed. When they contact axons of the lateral nerve fascicles, growth cones stall and spread out along the fascicle to form anvil-shaped structures. After pausing for a few minutes, they extend lamellipodia beyond the fascicle and resume migration toward the dorsal nerve cord. Growth cones stall again when they contact the body wall muscles. These muscles are tightly attached to the epidermis by narrowly spaced circumferential attachment structures. Stalled growth cones extend fingers dorsally between these hypodermal attachment structures. When a single finger has projected through the body wall muscle quadrant, the growth cone located on the ventral side of the muscle collapses and a new growth cone forms at the dorsal tip of the predominating finger. Thus, we observe that complete growth cone collapse occurs in vivo and not just in culture assays. In contrast to studies indicating that collapse occurs upon contact with repulsive substrata, collapse of the VD growth cones may result from an intrinsic signal that serves to maintain growth cone primacy and conserve cellular material.

scholarly journals Gradients and Growth Cone Guidance of Grasshopper Neurons

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur T. Legg ◽  
Timothy P. O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Path Finding ◽  
Guidance Cues ◽  
Cone Function ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Growth Cone Guidance

The generation of a functional nervous system is dependent on precise path-finding of axons during development. This pathfinding is directed by the distribution of local and long-range guidance cues, the latter of which are believed to be distributed in gradients. Gradients of guidance cues have been associated with growth cone function for over a hundred years. However, little is known about the mechanisms used by growth cones to respond to these gradients, in part owing to the lack of identifiable gradients in vivo. In the developing grasshopper limb, two gradients of the semaphorin Sema-2a are necessary for correct neuronal pathfinding in vivo. The gradients are found in regions where growth cones make critical steering decisions. Observations of different growth cone behaviors associated with these gradients have provided some insights into how growth cones respond to them. Growth cones appear to respond more faithfully to changes in concentration, rather than absolute levels, of Sema-2a expression, whereas the absolute levels may regulate growth cone size.

scholarly journals From embryonic fascicles to adult tracts: organization of neuropile from a developmental perspective

1984 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
M. Bastiani ◽  
K. G. Pearson ◽  
C. S. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
The Other ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Longitudinal Axon ◽  
Repeated Pattern ◽  
Thoracic And Abdominal

We discuss ideas emerging from our studies on selective axonal fasciculation in the grasshopper embryo that have implications for the organization of the adult neuropile in insects and perhaps other animals. While one of our laboratories has been studying the embryonic development of the G neurone (in the mesothoracic segment) and its lineal homologues (in other segments), the other has been studying the morphology and physiology of this same neurone and its segmental homologues in the adult nervous system. Our embryonic studies show that the growth cone of the G neurone selectively fasciculates with the A/P fascicle in preference to all other longitudinal axon fascicles at it turns anteriorly. The homologues of G in other thoracic and abdominal segments fasciculate in this same bundle. However, early in their morphological differentiation, they reveal interesting segmental differences. Our studies on the adult nervous system show that the segmental homologues of the G neurone share many properties in common (e.g. axons in the LDT: lateral dorsal tract) while other features are quite different. The notion emerging from these studies is that a basic segmentally-repeated pattern arises during embryogenesis: a stereotyped axonal scaffold upon which growth cones faithfully fasciculate. Evolutionary plasticity allows the specialization of lineally equivalent neurones in different segments within the context of the neuropilar neighbourhood that they find themselves in as a consequence of their selective fasciculation.

Targeted ablation of glia disrupts axon tract formation in the Drosophila CNS

Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (11) ◽  
pp. 3703-3712 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hidalgo ◽  
J. Urban ◽  
A.H. Brand
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Novel Technique ◽  
Cell Ablation ◽  
Longitudinal Axon ◽  
Growth Cone Guidance

Glial cells are thought to play a role in growth cone guidance, both in insects and in vertebrates. In the developing central nervous system of the Drosophila embryo, the interface glia form a scaffold prior to the extension of the first pioneer growth cones. Growing axons appear to contact the glial scaffold as the axon tracts are established. We have used a novel technique for targeted cell ablation to kill the interface glia and thus to test their role in establishment of the embryonic axon tracts. We show that ablation of the interface glia early in development leads to a complete loss of the longitudinal axon tracts. Ablation of the glia later in embryonic development results in defects comprising weakening and loss of axon fascicles within the connectives. We conclude that the interface glia are required first for growth cone guidance in the formation of the longitudinal axon tracts in the Drosophila embryo and then either to direct the follower growth cones, or to maintain the longitudinal axon tracts.

scholarly journals Tyrosine kinase inhibition produces specific alterations in axon guidance in the grasshopper embryo

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (20) ◽  
pp. 4121-4131 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.P. Menon ◽  
K. Zinn
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Growth Cones ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
The Body ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Kinase Inhibition ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition ◽  
Herbimycin A

Tyrosine kinase signaling pathways are essential for process outgrowth and guidance during nervous system development. We have examined the roles of tyrosine kinase activity in programming growth cone guidance decisions in an intact nervous system in which neurons can be individually identified. We applied the tyrosine kinase inhibitors herbimycin A and genistein to whole 40% grasshopper embryos placed in medium, or injected the inhibitors into intact grasshopper eggs. Both inhibitors caused interneuronal axons that normally would grow along the longitudinal connectives to instead leave the central nervous system (CNS) within the segmental nerve root and grow out toward the body wall muscles. In addition, herbimycin A produced pathfinding errors in which many longitudinal axons crossed the CNS midline. To study how this drug affected guidance decisions made by individual growth cones, we dye-filled the pCC interneuron, which normally extends an axon anteriorly along the ipsilateral longitudinal connective. In the presence of herbimycin A, the pCC growth cone was redirected across the anterior commissure. These phenotypes suggest that tyrosine kinase inhibition blocks a signaling mechanism that repels the growth cones of longitudinal connective neurons and prevents them from crossing the midline.

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