Synergistic integration of Netrin and ephrin axon guidance signals by spinal motor neurons.

ABSTRACT: During neural circuit assembly, axonal growth cones are exposed to multiple guidance signals at trajectory choice points. While axonal responses to individual guidance cues have been extensively studied, less is known about responses to combination of signals and underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we studied the convergence of signals directing trajectory selection of spinal motor axons entering the limb. We first demonstrate that Netrin-1 attracts and repels distinct motor axon populations, according to their expression of Netrin receptors. Quantitative in vitro assays demonstrate that motor axons synergistically integrate both attractive or repulsive Netrin-1 signals together with repulsive ephrin signals. Our investigations of the mechanism of ephrin-B2 and Netrin-1 integration demo

SUBMITTER: Poliak S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4764565 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature