scholarly journals Mutation of the α-tubulin Tuba1a leads to straighter microtubules and perturbs neuronal migration

2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (8) ◽  
pp. 2443-2461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Belvindrah ◽  
Kathiresan Natarajan ◽  
Preety Shabajee ◽  
Elodie Bruel-Jungerman ◽  
Jennifer Bernard ◽  
...  

Brain development involves extensive migration of neurons. Microtubules (MTs) are key cellular effectors of neuronal displacement that are assembled from α/β-tubulin heterodimers. Mutation of the α-tubulin isotype TUBA1A is associated with cortical malformations in humans. In this study, we provide detailed in vivo and in vitro analyses of Tuba1a mutants. In mice carrying a Tuba1a missense mutation (S140G), neurons accumulate, and glial cells are dispersed along the rostral migratory stream in postnatal and adult brains. Live imaging of Tuba1a-mutant neurons revealed slowed migration and increased neuronal branching, which correlated with directionality alterations and perturbed nucleus–centrosome (N–C) coupling. Tuba1a mutation led to increased straightness of newly polymerized MTs, and structural modeling data suggest a conformational change in the α/β-tubulin heterodimer. We show that Tuba8, another α-tubulin isotype previously associated with cortical malformations, has altered function compared with Tuba1a. Our work shows that Tuba1a plays an essential, noncompensated role in neuronal saltatory migration in vivo and highlights the importance of MT flexibility in N–C coupling and neuronal-branching regulation during neuronal migration.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Riva ◽  
Sofia Ferreira ◽  
Vera P. Medvedeva ◽  
Frédéric Causeret ◽  
Olivia J. Henry ◽  
...  

RELN is a large secreted glycoprotein that acts at multiple steps of cerebral cortex development, including neuronal migration. Only recessive mutations of the Reelin gene (RELN) have been associated with human cortical malformations and none has been functionally characterized. We identified novel missense RELN mutations in both compound and de novo heterozygous patients exhibiting an array of neuronal migration disorders (NMDs) as diverse as pachygyria, polymicrogyria and heterotopia. Most mutations caused defective RELN secretion in vitro and, when ectopically expressed in the embryonic mouse cortex, affected neuronal aggregation and/or migration in vivo. We determined the de novo heterozygous mutations acted as dominant negative and demonstrated that RELN mutations mediate not only recessive, but also dominant NMDs. This work assesses for the first time the pathogenicity of RELN mutations showing a strong genotype-phenotype correlation. In particular, the behavior of the mutant proteins in vitro and in vivo predicts the severity of cortical malformations and provides valuable insight into the pathogenesis of these disorders.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Claire Rühlmann ◽  
David Dannehl ◽  
Marcus Brodtrück ◽  
Andrew C. Adams ◽  
Jan Stenzel ◽  
...  

Background: To date, there are no effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Thus, a significant need for research of therapies remains. Objective: One promising pharmacological target is the hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which is thought to be neuroprotective. A clinical candidate for medical use could be the FGF21 analogue LY2405319 (LY), which has a specificity and potency comparable to FGF21. Methods: The present study investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of LY via PPARγ/apoE/abca1 pathway which is known to degrade amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques by using primary glial cells and hippocampal organotypic brain slice cultures (OBSCs) from 30- and 50-week-old transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9 (tg) mice. By LY treatment of 52-week-old tg mice with advanced Aβ deposition, we further aimed to elaborate the effect of LY on AD pathology in vivo. Results: LY application to primary glial cells caused an upregulation of pparγ, apoE, and abca1 mRNA expression and significantly decreased number and area of Aβ plaques in OBSCs. LY treatment in tg mice increased cerebral [18F] FDG uptake and N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio indicating enhanced neuronal activity and integrity. Although LY did not reduce the number of Aβ plaques in tg mice, the number of iba1-positive cells was significantly decreased indicating reduced microgliosis. Conclusion: These data identified LY in vitro as an activator of Aβ degrading genes leading to cerebral Aβ load amelioration in early and late AD pathology. Although Aβ plaque reduction by LY failed in vivo, LY may be used as therapeutic agent to treat AD-related neuroinflammation and impaired neuronal integrity.


2000 ◽  
Vol 149 (5) ◽  
pp. 1087-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunashree Bhamidipati ◽  
Sally A. Lewis ◽  
Nicholas J. Cowan

The ADP ribosylation factor-like proteins (Arls) are a family of small monomeric G proteins of unknown function. Here, we show that Arl2 interacts with the tubulin-specific chaperone protein known as cofactor D. Cofactors C, D, and E assemble the α/β- tubulin heterodimer and also interact with native tubulin, stimulating it to hydrolyze GTP and thus acting together as a β-tubulin GTPase activating protein (GAP). We find that Arl2 downregulates the tubulin GAP activity of C, D, and E, and inhibits the binding of D to native tubulin in vitro. We also find that overexpression of cofactors D or E in cultured cells results in the destruction of the tubulin heterodimer and of microtubules. Arl2 specifically prevents destruction of tubulin and microtubules by cofactor D, but not by cofactor E. We generated mutant forms of Arl2 based on the known properties of classical Ras-family mutations. Experiments using these altered forms of Arl2 in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that it is GDP-bound Arl2 that interacts with cofactor D, thereby averting tubulin and microtubule destruction. These data establish a role for Arl2 in modulating the interaction of tubulin-folding cofactors with native tubulin in vivo.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenggang Lu ◽  
Martin Srayko ◽  
Paul E. Mains

The microtubule-severing protein complex katanin is required for a variety of important microtubule-base morphological changes in both animals and plants. Caenorhabditis elegans katanin is encoded by the mei-1 and mei-2 genes and is required for oocyte meiotic spindle formation and must be inactivated before the first mitotic cleavage. We identified a mutation, sb26, in the tbb-2 β-tubulin gene that partially inhibits MEI-1/MEI-2 activity: sb26 rescues lethality caused by ectopic MEI-1/MEI-2 expression during mitosis, and sb26 increases meiotic defects in a genetic background where MEI-1/MEI-2 activity is lower than normal. sb26 does not interfere with MEI-1/MEI-2 microtubule localization, suggesting that this mutation likely interferes with severing. Tubulin deletion alleles and RNA-mediated interference revealed that TBB-2 and the other germline enriched β-tubulin isotype, TBB-1, are redundant for embryonic viability. However, limiting MEI-1/MEI-2 activity in these experiments revealed that MEI-1/MEI-2 preferentially interacts with TBB-2–containing microtubules. Our results demonstrate that these two superficially redundant β-tubulin isotypes have functionally distinct roles in vivo.


2010 ◽  
Vol 225 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadayuki Hashioka ◽  
Andis Klegeris ◽  
Claudia Schwab ◽  
Sheng Yu ◽  
Patrick L. McGeer

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (7S_Part_18) ◽  
pp. P860-P861
Author(s):  
Silvia Fossati ◽  
Patrizia Giannoni ◽  
Maria E. Solesio ◽  
Sarah L. Cocklin ◽  
Erwin Cabrera ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2919-2932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohan L. Gupta ◽  
Claudia J. Bode ◽  
Douglas A. Thrower ◽  
Chad G. Pearson ◽  
Kathy A. Suprenant ◽  
...  

Microtubule dynamics are influenced by interactions of microtubules with cellular factors and by changes in the primary sequence of the tubulin molecule. Mutations of yeast β-tubulin C354, which is located near the binding site of some antimitotic compounds, reduce microtubule dynamicity greater than 90% in vivo and in vitro. The resulting intrinsically stable microtubules allowed us to determine which, if any, cellular processes are dependent on dynamic microtubules. The average number of cytoplasmic microtubules decreased from 3 in wild-type to 1 in mutant cells. The single microtubule effectively located the bud site before bud emergence. Although spindles were positioned near the bud neck at the onset of anaphase, the mutant cells were deficient in preanaphase spindle alignment along the mother-bud axis. Spindle microtubule dynamics and spindle elongation rates were also severely depressed in the mutants. The pattern and extent of cytoplasmic microtubule dynamics modulation through the cell cycle may reveal the minimum dynamic properties required to support growth. The ability to alter intrinsic microtubule dynamics and determine the in vivo phenotype of cells expressing the mutant tubulin provides a critical advance in assessing the dynamic requirements of an essential gene function.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (10) ◽  
pp. E2006-E2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
János Hanics ◽  
Edit Szodorai ◽  
Giuseppe Tortoriello ◽  
Katarzyna Malenczyk ◽  
Erik Keimpema ◽  
...  

The rostral migratory stream (RMS) is viewed as a glia-enriched conduit of forward-migrating neuroblasts in which chemorepulsive signals control the pace of forward migration. Here we demonstrate the existence of a scaffold of neurons that receive synaptic inputs within the rat, mouse, and human fetal RMS equivalents. These neurons express secretagogin, a Ca2+-sensor protein, to execute an annexin V-dependent externalization of matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) for reconfiguring the extracellular matrix locally. Mouse genetics combined with pharmacological probing in vivo and in vitro demonstrate that MMP-2 externalization occurs on demand and that its loss slows neuroblast migration. Loss of function is particularly remarkable upon injury to the olfactory bulb. Cumulatively, we identify a signaling cascade that provokes structural remodeling of the RMS through recruitment of MMP-2 by a previously unrecognized neuronal constituent. Given the life-long presence of secretagogin-containing neurons in human, this mechanism might be exploited for therapeutic benefit in rescue strategies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Kofler ◽  
Bettina Wiesenhofer ◽  
Christine Rehrl ◽  
Gottfried Baier ◽  
Günter Stockhammer ◽  
...  

Sufficient gene transfer into CNS-derived cells is the most crucial step to develop strategies for gene therapy. In this study liposome-mediated gene transfer using a β-galactosidase (β-GAL) reporter gene was performed in vitro (C6 glioma cells, NT2 neuronal precursor cells, 3T3 fibroblasts, primary glial cells) and in vivo. Using Trypan blue exclusion staining, optimal lipid concentration was observed in the range of 10-12 μg/mL. Under optimal conditions (80,000 cells/16 mm well, incubation overnight, lipid/DNA ratio = 1:18) a high transfection rate was achieved (<9% for C6 cells; <1% for NT2 cells). In primary cultures of glial cells a fair amount of positive stained cells (glial cell) was found, but the transfection efficiency was lower (<0.1%). A “boost-lipofection” markedly increased (twice) lipofection efficiency in C6 cells. Expression of β-GAL reached a maximum after 3-5 days. When the liposome–DNA complexes were injected/infused directly into the brains of adult rats, several weakly stained cells could be observed in the brain region adjacent to the injection site. It is concluded that liposome-mediated gene transfer is an efficient method for gene transfer into CNS cells in vitro, but the transfection efficiency into the rat brain in vivo is far too low and therefore not applicable.


1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jung ◽  
A. J. Crang ◽  
W. F. Blackemore ◽  
D. Hoppe ◽  
H. Kettenmann ◽  
...  

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