Faculty Opinions recommendation of Nodes of Ranvier and axon initial segments are ankyrin G-dependent domains that assemble by distinct mechanisms.

Author(s):  
Bettina Winckler
2007 ◽  
Vol 177 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulia Dzhashiashvili ◽  
Yanqing Zhang ◽  
Jolanta Galinska ◽  
Isabel Lam ◽  
Martin Grumet ◽  
...  

Axon initial segments (AISs) and nodes of Ranvier are sites of action potential generation and propagation, respectively. Both domains are enriched in sodium channels complexed with adhesion molecules (neurofascin [NF] 186 and NrCAM) and cytoskeletal proteins (ankyrin G and βIV spectrin). We show that the AIS and peripheral nervous system (PNS) nodes both require ankyrin G but assemble by distinct mechanisms. The AIS is intrinsically specified; it forms independent of NF186, which is targeted to this site via intracellular interactions that require ankyrin G. In contrast, NF186 is targeted to the node, and independently cleared from the internode, by interactions of its ectodomain with myelinating Schwann cells. NF186 is critical for and initiates PNS node assembly by recruiting ankyrin G, which is required for the localization of sodium channels and the entire nodal complex. Thus, initial segments assemble from the inside out driven by the intrinsic accumulation of ankyrin G, whereas PNS nodes assemble from the outside in, specified by Schwann cells, which direct the NF186-dependent recruitment of ankyrin G.


2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (7) ◽  
pp. 983-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Lacas-Gervais ◽  
Jun Guo ◽  
Nicola Strenzke ◽  
Eric Scarfone ◽  
Melanie Kolpe ◽  
...  

Saltatory electric conduction requires clustered voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) at axon initial segments (AIS) and nodes of Ranvier (NR). A dense membrane undercoat is present at these sites, which is thought to be key for the focal accumulation of channels. Here, we prove that βIVΣ1 spectrin, the only βIV spectrin with an actin-binding domain, is an essential component of this coat. Specifically, βIVΣ1 coexists with βIVΣ6 at both AIS and NR, being the predominant spectrin at AIS. Removal of βIVΣ1 alone causes the disappearance of the nodal coat, an increased diameter of the NR, and the presence of dilations filled with organelles. Moreover, in myelinated cochlear afferent fibers, VGSC and ankyrin G clusters appear fragmented. These ultrastructural changes can explain the motor and auditory neuropathies present in βIVΣ1 −/− mice and point to the βIVΣ1 spectrin isoform as a master-stabilizing factor of AIS/NR membranes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 975-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew N. Rasband

Neurons have high densities of voltage-gated Na+ channels that are restricted to axon initial segments and nodes of Ranvier, where they are responsible for initiating and propagating action potentials. New findings (Bréchet, A., M.-P. Fache, A. Brachet, G. Ferracci, A. Baude, M. Irondelle, S. Pereira, C. Leterrier, and B. Dargent. 2008. J. Cell Biol. 183:1101–1114) reveal that phosphorylation of several key serine residues by the protein kinase CK2 regulates Na+ channel interactions with ankyrin G. The presence of CK2 at the axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier provides a mechanism to regulate the specific accumulation and retention of Na+ channels within these important domains.


2002 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki Komada ◽  
Philippe Soriano

β-Spectrin and ankyrin are major components of the membrane cytoskeleton. We have generated mice carrying a null mutation in the βIV-spectrin gene using gene trapping in embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the mutation exhibit tremors and contraction of hindlimbs. βIV-spectrin expression is mostly restricted to neurons, where it colocalizes with and binds to ankyrin-G at axon initial segments (AISs) and nodes of Ranvier (NR). In βIV-spectrin–null neurons, neither ankyrin-G nor voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) are correctly clustered at these sites, suggesting that impaired action potential caused by mislocalization of VGSC leads to the phenotype. Conversely, in ankyrin-G–null neurons, βIV-spectrin is not localized to these sites. These results indicate that βIV-spectrin and ankyrin-G mutually stabilize the membrane protein cluster and the linked membrane cytoskeleton at AIS and NR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (39) ◽  
pp. 19717-19726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Yang ◽  
Kathryn K. Walder-Christensen ◽  
Samir Lalani ◽  
Haidun Yan ◽  
Irene Díez García-Prieto ◽  
...  

Giant ankyrin-G (gAnkG) coordinates assembly of axon initial segments (AISs), which are sites of action potential generation located in proximal axons of most vertebrate neurons. Here, we identify a mechanism required for normal neural development in humans that ensures ordered recruitment of gAnkG and β4-spectrin to the AIS. We identified 3 human neurodevelopmental missense mutations located in the neurospecific domain of gAnkG that prevent recruitment of β4-spectrin, resulting in a lower density and more elongated pattern for gAnkG and its partners than in the mature AIS. We found that these mutations inhibit transition of gAnkG from a closed configuration with close apposition of N- and C-terminal domains to an extended state that is required for binding and recruitment of β4-spectrin, and normally occurs early in development of the AIS. We further found that the neurospecific domain is highly phosphorylated in mouse brain, and that phosphorylation at 2 sites (S1982 and S2619) is required for the conformational change and for recruitment of β4-spectrin. Together, these findings resolve a discrete intermediate stage in formation of the AIS that is regulated through phosphorylation of the neurospecific domain of gAnkG.


Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Coban ◽  
Spencer Tung ◽  
Harry V Vinters ◽  
Jason D Hinman

Introduction: Ischemic brain lesions are pathologic hallmarks commonly associated with cognitive and cerebrovascular diseases. In particular, cortical microinfarcts are described as microscopically identified wedge shaped ischemic lesions such as cavitations with few remaining macrophages and fibrillary gliosis. These microscopic lesions are observed with high resolution magnetic resonance imaging in aging brains and in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies have suggested that strategically located microinfarcts strongly correlate with cognitive deficits, which can contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) as well as other forms of dementia. Hypothesis: We have recently shown that there is altered axonal molecular organization in white matter areas adjacent to white matter lacunar and microinfarcts. In this study, we hypothesized that similar changes were present in nodal, paranodal, and axon initial segments adjacent to human cortical microinfarcts. Methods: Paraffin-embedded sections of autopsy brain tissue from five patients (post mortem interval range= 4 to 45 h) with cortical microinfarcts reported in their clinical neuropathological examination were immunofluorescently labeled for nodal and paranodal markers including beta-IV spectrin, ankyrin-G, and contactin-associated protein (caspr). High magnification images were generated using confocal microscopy. Results: Cases ranged in age from 73 to 93 years old. Comorbid neuropathologic diagnoses included AD (n=3) and mixed dementia (n=2). Adjacent to cortical microinfarcts, we observed significant elongation of paranodal segments and shortened axon initial segments adjacent to cortical microinfarcts. In adjacent cortical regions without microinfarcts, paranodal segments were less frequently abnormal and axon initial segment length appeared normal. Conclusions: These data indicate that the molecular organization of axons adjacent to human cortical microinfarcts is abnormal providing support for a microinfarct penumbral injury that worsens the effect of these tiny strokes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Yasuhiro Ogawa ◽  
Kristian L. Hedstrom ◽  
Matthew N. Rasband

High densities of ion channels at axon initial segments (AISs) and nodes of Ranvier are required for initiation, propagation, and modulation of action potentials in axons. The organization of these membrane domains depends on a specialized cytoskeleton consisting of two submembranous cytoskeletal and scaffolding proteins, ankyrinG (ankG) and βIV spectrin. However, it is not known which of these proteins is the principal organizer, or if the mechanisms governing formation of the cytoskeleton at the AIS also apply to nodes. We identify a distinct protein domain in βIV spectrin required for its localization to the AIS, and show that this domain mediates βIV spectrin's interaction with ankG. Dominant-negative ankG disrupts βIV spectrin localization, but does not alter endogenous ankG or Na+ channel clustering at the AIS. Finally, using adenovirus for transgene delivery into myelinated neurons, we demonstrate that βIV spectrin recruitment to nodes of Ranvier also depends on binding to ankG.


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