Work

Cadherin2/4-signaling via PTP1B and catenins is critical for nucleokinesis during radial neuronal migration in the neocortex

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Cadherins are crucial for the radial migration of excitatory projection neurons into the developing neocortical wall. However, the specific cadherins and the signaling pathways that regulate radial migration are not well understood. Here, we show that cadherin 2 (CDH2) and CDH4 cooperate to regulate radial migration in mouse brain via the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and α- and β-catenins. Surprisingly, perturbation of cadherin-mediated signaling does not affect the formation and extension of leading processes of migrating neocortical neurons. Instead, movement of the cell body and nucleus (nucleokinesis) is disrupted. This defect is partially rescued by overexpression of LIS1, a microtubule-associated protein that has previously been shown to regulate nucleokinesis. Taken together, our findings indicate that cadherin-mediated signaling to the cytoskeleton is crucial for nucleokinesis of neocortical projection neurons during their radial migration.

Source: Development

DOI: 10.1242/dev.132456

Authors: Isabel Martinez-Garay, Cristina Gil-Sanz, Santos J Franco, Ana Espinosa, Zoltán Molnár, Ulrich Mueller