Searching across hundreds of databases
During development, the axons of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurons must decide whether to cross or avoid the midline at the optic chiasm to project to targets on both sides of the brain. By combining genetic analyses with in vitro assays, we show that neuropilin 1 (NRP1) promotes contralateral RGC projection in mammals. Unexpectedly, the NRP1 ligand involved is not an axon guidance cue of the class 3 semaphorin family, but VEGF164, the neuropilin-binding isoform of the classical vascular growth factor VEGF-A. VEGF164 is expressed at the chiasm midline and is required for normal contralateral growth in vivo. In outgrowth and growth cone turning assays, VEGF164 acts directly on NRP1-expressing contralateral RGCs to provide growth-promoting and chemoattractive signals. These findings have identified a permissive midline signal for axons at the chiasm midline and provide in vivo evidence that VEGF-A is an essential axon guidance cue.
Pubmed ID: 21658587 RIS Download
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
Biomedical technology research center that develops new technologies for modeling cell biological processes. The technologies are integrated through Virtual Cell, a problem-solving environment built on a central database and disseminated as a Web application for the analysis, modeling and simulation of cell biological processes. NRCAM resides at the Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, CCAM, and provides a vast array of laboratory equipment that can be used for obtaining experimental data needed to create and enhance Virtual Cell models. Microscopy instrumentation includes three confocal laser scanning microscopes including UV excitation, nonlinear optical microscopy utilizing a titanium sapphire pulsed laser, confocal-based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, wide-field imaging workstation with cooled CCD and rapid excitation filter wheel, and dual-wavelength spectrofluorometer. Access to the facilities and technical staff is open to all researchers.
View all literature mentionsMus musculus with name STOCK Nox4tm1.2Hwsc Tg(Tek-cre)1Ywa/Orl from IMSR.
View all literature mentionsThe SciCrunch Infrastructure was developed as a cooperative data platform to be used by diverse communities in making data more FAIR.
scicrunch.org
