Abstract

The 22 γ-protocadherins (γ-Pcdhs) potentially specify thousands of distinct homophilic adhesive interactions in the brain. Neonatal lethality of mice lacking the Pcdh-γ gene cluster has, however, precluded analysis of many brain regions. Here, we use a conditional Pcdh-γ allele to restrict mutation to the cerebral cortex and find that, in contrast to other central nervous system phenotypes, loss of γ-Pcdhs in cortical neurons does not affect their survival or result in reduced synaptic density. Instead, mutant cortical neurons exhibit severely reduced dendritic arborization. Mutant cortices have aberrantly high levels of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and of phosphorylated (inactive) myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate, a PKC target that promotes arborization. Dendrite complexity can be rescued in Pcdh-γ mutant neurons by inhibiting PKC, its upstream activator phospholipase C, or the γ-Pcdh binding partner focal adhesion kinase. Our results reveal a distinct role for the γ-Pcdhs in cortical development and identify a signaling pathway through which they play this role.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Garrett AM, Schreiner D, Lobas MA, Weiner JA

Institution

Department of Biology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

Source

Neuron 74:2 2012 Apr 26 pg 269-76

MeSH

Age Factors
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Bacterial Proteins
Cadherins
Cells, Cultured
Cerebral Cortex
Dendrites
Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Homeodomain Proteins
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Luminescent Proteins
Membrane Proteins
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Neurons
Protein Kinase C
Sequence Deletion
Signal Transduction
Transcription Factors
Transfection

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22542181