Axon Degeneration Gated by Retrograde Activation of Somatic Pro-apoptotic Signaling.

ABSTRACT: During development, sensory axons compete for limiting neurotrophic support, and local neurotrophin insufficiency triggers caspase-dependent axon degeneration. The signaling driving axon degeneration upon local deprivation is proposed to reside within axons. Our results instead support a model in which, despite the apoptotic machinery being present in axons, the cell body is an active participant in gating axonal caspase activation and axon degeneration. Loss of trophic support in axons initiates retrograde activation of a somatic pro-apoptotic pathway, which, in turn, is required for distal axon degeneration via an anterograde pro-degenerative factor. At a molecular level, the cell body is the convergence point of two signaling pathways whose integrated action drives upregulation of pro-a

SUBMITTER: Simon DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4785881 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature