Project description:RNA-based regulatory mechanisms play important roles in the development and plasticity of neural circuits and neurologic disease. Developing axons provide a well suited model to study RNA-based regulation, and contain specific subsets of mRNAs that are locally translated and have roles in axon pathfinding. However, the RNA-binding proteins involved in axon pathfinding, and their corresponding mRNA targets, are still largely unknown. Here we find that the RNA-binding protein IMP2 (Igf2bp2) is strikingly enriched in developing axon tracts, including in spinal commissural axons. We used the HITS-CLIP approach to perform a genome-wide identification of RNAs that interact directly with IMP2 in the native context of developing brain. This IMP2 interactome was highly enriched for mRNA targets related to axon guidance. Accordingly, IMP2 knockdown in the developing spinal cord led to strong defects in commissural axon trajectories at the midline intermediate target. These results reveal a highly distinctive axonal enrichment of IMP2, show that it interacts with a network of axon guidance-related mRNAs, and reveal its requirement for normal axon pathfinding during vertebrate development. CLIP-seq
Project description:RNA-based regulatory mechanisms play important roles in the development and plasticity of neural circuits and neurologic disease. Developing axons provide a well suited model to study RNA-based regulation, and contain specific subsets of mRNAs that are locally translated and have roles in axon pathfinding. However, the RNA-binding proteins involved in axon pathfinding, and their corresponding mRNA targets, are still largely unknown. Here we find that the RNA-binding protein IMP2 (Igf2bp2) is strikingly enriched in developing axon tracts, including in spinal commissural axons. We used the HITS-CLIP approach to perform a genome-wide identification of RNAs that interact directly with IMP2 in the native context of developing brain. This IMP2 interactome was highly enriched for mRNA targets related to axon guidance. Accordingly, IMP2 knockdown in the developing spinal cord led to strong defects in commissural axon trajectories at the midline intermediate target. These results reveal a highly distinctive axonal enrichment of IMP2, show that it interacts with a network of axon guidance-related mRNAs, and reveal its requirement for normal axon pathfinding during vertebrate development.
Project description:Neurons are highly polarized cells with distinct protein compositions in axonal and dendritic compartments. Cellular mechanisms controlling polarized protein sorting have been described for mature nervous system but little is known about the segregation in newly differentiated neurons. In a forward genetic screen for regulators of Drosophila brain circuit development, we identified mutations in <span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);">Serine Palmitoyltransferase </span>(SPT), an evolutionary conserved enzyme in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Here we show that reduced levels of sphingolipids in SPT mutants cause axonal morphology defects similar to loss of cell recognition molecule Dscam. Loss- and gain-of-function studies show that neuronal sphingolipids are critical to prevent aggregation of axonal and dendritic Dscam isoforms, thereby ensuring precise Dscam localization to support axon branch segregation. Furthermore, SPT mutations causing neurodegenerative HSAN-I disorder in humans also result in formation of stable Dscam aggregates and axonal branch phenotypes in Drosophila neurons, indicating a causal link between developmental protein sorting defects and neuronal dysfunction.
Project description:Protein inclusions containing the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 are a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. The loss of TDP-43 function that is associated with these inclusions affects post-transcriptional processing of RNAs in multiple ways including pre-mRNA splicing, nucleocytoplasmic transport, modulation of mRNA stability and translation. In contrast, less is known about the role of TDP-43 in axonal RNA metabolism in motoneurons. Here we show that depletion of Tdp-43 in primary motoneurons affects axon growth. This defect is accompanied by subcellular transcriptome alterations in the axonal and somatodendritic compartment. The axonal localization of transcripts encoding components of the cytoskeleton, the translational machinery and transcripts involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism were particularly affected by loss of Tdp-43. Accordingly, we observed reduced protein synthesis and disturbed mitochondrial functions in axons of Tdp-43-depleted motoneurons. Treatment with nicotinamide rescued the axon growth defect associated with loss of Tdp-43. These results show that Tdp-43 depletion in motoneurons affects several pathways integral to axon health indicating that loss of TDP-43 function could thus make a major contribution to axonal pathomechanisms in ALS.
Project description:Disturbed RNA processing and subcellular transport contribute to the pathomechanisms of motoneuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. RNA-binding proteins are involved in these processes, but the mechanisms how they regulate the subcellular diversity of transcriptomes, in particular in axons, are not understood. hnRNP R interacts with several proteins involved in motoneuron diseases. It is located in axons of developing motoneurons and its depletion causes defects in axon growth. Here, we used iCLIP to determine the RNA interactome of hnRNP R in motoneurons. We identified ~3,500 RNA targets, predominantly with functions in synaptic transmission and axon guidance. Among the RNA targets identified by iCLIP, the non-coding RNA 7SK was the top interactor of hnRNP R. We detected 7SK in the nucleus but also in the cytosol of motoneurons. In axons, 7SK localized in close proximity to hnRNP R and depletion of hnRNP R reduced axonal 7SK. Furthermore, suppression of 7SK led to defective axon growth that was accompanied by axonal transcriptome alterations similar to those caused by hnRNP R depletion. Using a series of 7SK deletion mutants we show that the function of 7SK in axon elongation depends on its interaction with hnRNP R but not with the pTEF-B complex involved in transcriptional regulation. These results propose a role of 7SK as essential interactor of hnRNP R to regulate its function in axon maintenance.
Project description:RNA localization is a regulatory mechanism that is conserved from bacteria to mammals. Yet, little is known about the mechanism and the logic that govern the distribution of RNA transcripts within the cell. Here we present a novel organ culture system, which enables the isolation of RNA specifically from NGF dependent re-growing peripheral axons of mouse embryo sensory neurons. In combination with massive parallel sequencing technology, we determine the sub-cellular localization of most transcripts in the transcriptome. We found that the axon is enriched in mRNAs that encode secreted proteins, transcription factors and the translation machinery. In contrast, the axon was largely depleted from mRNAs encoding transmembrane proteins, a particularly interesting finding, since many of these gene products are specifically expressed in the tip of the axon at the protein level. Comparison of the mitochondrial mRNAs encoded in the nucleus with those encoded in the mitochondria, uncovered completely different localization pattern, with the latter much enriched in the axon fraction. This discovery is intriguing since the protein products encoded by the nuclear and mitochondrial genome form large co-complexes. Finally, focusing on alternative splice variants that are specific to axonal fractions, we find short sequence motifs that are enriched in the axonal transcriptome. Together our findings shed light on the extensive role of RNA localization and its characteristics. For each RNA sample, Spinal Cords\ DRGs were dissected from 40 E13.5 embryos and cultured for 48H. Total RNA was extracted from whole DRG and Peripheral axons. Poly-A enriched. In duplicates, using GAIIx. Read length - 80nt.
Project description:Axon pathfinding is a key step during the formation of neural circuits but however the transcriptional mechanisms regulating its progression remain poorly understood. The binary decision of crossing or avoiding the midline that neurons make during developmente midline that mammalian retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons take at the optic chiasm has classically represented a robust model to search for novel mechanisms controlling the selection of axonal trajectories. Here, in order to identify new axon pathfinding regulators, we compared the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility profiles of mammalian retinal ganglion cells RGCs projecting ipsilateral (iRGCs) or contralaterally (cRGCs). Overall, our analyses retrieved dozens of new molecules potentially involved in axon pathfinding and uncovered the regulatory logic behind axon trajectories selection.
Project description:RNA localization is a regulatory mechanism that is conserved from bacteria to mammals. Yet, little is known about the mechanism and the logic that govern the distribution of RNA transcripts within the cell. Here we present a novel organ culture system, which enables the isolation of RNA specifically from NGF dependent re-growing peripheral axons of mouse embryo sensory neurons. In combination with massive parallel sequencing technology, we determine the sub-cellular localization of most transcripts in the transcriptome. We found that the axon is enriched in mRNAs that encode secreted proteins, transcription factors and the translation machinery. In contrast, the axon was largely depleted from mRNAs encoding transmembrane proteins, a particularly interesting finding, since many of these gene products are specifically expressed in the tip of the axon at the protein level. Comparison of the mitochondrial mRNAs encoded in the nucleus with those encoded in the mitochondria, uncovered completely different localization pattern, with the latter much enriched in the axon fraction. This discovery is intriguing since the protein products encoded by the nuclear and mitochondrial genome form large co-complexes. Finally, focusing on alternative splice variants that are specific to axonal fractions, we find short sequence motifs that are enriched in the axonal transcriptome. Together our findings shed light on the extensive role of RNA localization and its characteristics.
Project description:The neuronal RNA-binding protein Ptbp2 regulates neuronal differentiation by modulating alternative splicing programs in the nucleus. Such programs contribute to axonogenesis by adjusting the levels of protein isoforms involved in axon growth and branching. While its functions in alternative splicing have been described in detail, cytosolic roles of Ptbp2 for axon growth have remained elusive. Here, we show that Ptbp2 is located in the cytosol and in axons of motoneurons, and that depletion of Ptbp2 affects axon growth. We identified Ptbp2 as a major interactor of the 3' UTR of Hnrnpr mRNA. Axonal localization of Hnrnpr mRNA and local synthesis of hnRNP R protein are strongly reduced when Ptbp2 is depleted, leading to defective axon growth. Ptbp2 regulates hnRNP R translation by mediating the association of Hnrnpr with ribosomes in a manner dependent on the translation factor eIF5A2. Our data thus, suggest a mechanism whereby Ptbp2 modulates axon growth by fine-tuning the mRNA transport and local synthesis of an RNA-binding protein.
Project description:Localized mRNA translation regulates synapse function and axon maintenance, but how compartment-specific mRNA repertoires are regulated is largely unknown. We developed an axonal transcriptome capture method that allows deep sequencing of metabolically-labeled mRNAs from retinal ganglion cell axon terminals in mouse. Comparing axonal-to-somal transcriptomes and axonal translatome-to-transcriptome enables genome-wide visualization of mRNA transport and translation and unveils potential regulators tuned to each process. FMRP and TDP-43 stand out as key regulators of transport, and experiments in Fmr1 knock-out mice validate FMRP’s role in the axonal transportation of synapse-related mRNAs. Pulse-and-chase experiments enable genome-wide assessment of mRNA stability in axons and reveal a strong coupling between mRNA translation and decay. Measuring the absolute mRNA abundance per axon terminal shows that the axonal transcriptome is stably maintained in adulthood by persistent transport. Our datasets provide a rich resource for unique insights into RNA-based mechanisms in maintaining presynaptic structure and function in vivo.