• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.549-556
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• 2021

Decoding the molecular mechanisms underlying axon guidance is key to precise understanding of how complex neural circuits form during neural development. Although substantial progress has been made over the last three decades in identifying numerous axon guidance molecules and their functional roles, little is known about how these guidance molecules collaborate to steer growth cones to their correct targets. Recent studies in Drosophila point to the importance of the combinatorial action of guidance molecules, and further show that selective fasciculation and defasciculation at specific choice points serve as a fundamental strategy for motor axon guidance. Here, I discuss how attractive and repulsive guidance cues cooperate to ensure the recognition of specific choice points that are inextricably linked to selective fasciculation and defasciculation, and correct pathfinding decision-making.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

The abnormal accumulation and aggregation of the misfolded α-synuclein protein is the neuropathological hallmark of all α-synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. The secreted proteins known as netrins (netrin-1, netrin-3, and netrin-4) are related to laminin and have a role in the molecular pathway for axon guidance and cell survival. Interestingly, only netrin-1 is significantly expressed in the substantia nigra (SN) of healthy adult brains and its expression inversely correlates with that of α-synuclein, which prompted us to look into the role of α-synuclein and netrin-1 molecular interaction in the future of dopaminergic neurons. Here, we showed that netrin-1 and α-synuclein directly interacted in pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) generation test, real time binding assay, and co-immunoprecipitation with neurotoxin treated cell lysates. Netrin-1 deficiency appeared to activate the dopaminergic neuronal cell death signal pathway via α-synuclein aggregation and hyperphosphorylation of α-synuclein S129. Taken together, netrin-1 can be a promising therapeutic molecule in Parkinson's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2004

Roundabout (Robo) is the transmembrane receptor for slit, the neuronal guidance molecule. In this study, the tyrosine phosphorylation of Robo was observed in Robo-transfected human embryonic kidney cells and developing rat brains, and found to be increased by the treatment with protein kinase A activator, forskolin. In contrast, protein kinase C activation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate decreased the phosphorylation of Robo. Intracellular calcium was required for the tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, the transfection of an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase dramatically enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings indicate that the tyrosine phosphorylation of Robo is regulated by multiple mechanisms, and that Eph receptor kinases may play a role in the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Robo in the rat brain.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.841-846
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• 2016

Local protein synthesis mediates precise spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression for neuronal functions such as long-term plasticity, axon guidance and regeneration. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of local translation, it is crucial to understand mRNA transport, localization and translation in live neurons. Among various techniques for mRNA analysis, fluorescence microscopy has been widely used as the most direct method to study localization of mRNA. Live-cell imaging of single RNA molecules is particularly advantageous to dissect the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes in neurons. Here, we review recent advances in the study of mRNA localization and translation in live neurons using novel techniques for single-RNA imaging.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1199-1208
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• 2013

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) form the structural backbone of the T zone provide a guidance path for immigrating T cells in the lymph node (LN). FRCs may contribute directly to developing T-cell biology in the LN and allow analyses of fundamental aspects of FRC biology related to T cells. FRCs inhibited T-cell apoptosis, and FRC culture supernatants strongly induced the expression of Bcl-xL in T cells against doxorubicin. Coculture of FRC and T cells resulted in rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, as well as global changes in the morphology of the FRCs. In addition, when cocultured, the T cells adhered to the FRC monolayer, and the membrane intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 was slightly increased by day-dependent manner. In contrast, the expression of soluble ICAM-1 was dramatically increased in a day-dependent manner. Several chemokines, such as CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL16, CCL8, CXCL13, and ICAM-1, and MMPs were expressed in FRCs sensed by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) families. Nuclear factor kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$)-RelA of the $NF{\kappa}B$ canonical pathway was translocated into FRC nuclear by $TNF{\alpha}$. In contrast, p52 proteolyzed from p100, a counterpart of RelB of the noncanonical $NF{\kappa}B$ pathway, accumulated in the peripheral FRC nucleus by agonistic anti-$LT{\beta}R$ antibody. In summary, we propose a model in which FRCs engage in bidirectional crosstalk to increase the efficiency of T-cell biology. This cooperative feedback loop may help to maintain tissue integrity and function during immune responses.