Assembly of Lamina-Specific Neuronal Connections by Slit Bound to Type IV Collagen

Authors

Tong Xiao, University of California, San Francisco
Wendy Staub, University of California, San Francisco
Estuardo Robles, University of California, San FranciscoFollow
Nathan J. Gosse, University of California, San Francisco
Gregory J. Cole, North Carolina Central University
Herwig Baier, University of California, San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-8-2011

Publication Title

Cell

Abstract

The mechanisms that generate specific neuronal connections in the brain are under intense investigation. In zebrafish, retinal ganglion cells project their axons into at least six layers within the neuropil of the midbrain tectum. Each axon elaborates a single, planar arbor in one of the target layers and forms synapses onto the dendrites of tectal neurons. We show that the laminar specificity of retinotectal connections does not depend on self-sorting interactions among RGC axons. Rather, tectum-derived Slit1, signaling through axonal Robo2, guides neurites to their target layer. Genetic and biochemical studies indicate that Slit binds to Dragnet (Col4a5), a type IV Collagen, which forms the basement membrane on the surface of the tectum. We further show that radial glial endfeet are required for the basement-membrane anchoring of Slit. We propose that Slit1 signaling, perhaps in the form of a superficial-to-deep gradient, presents laminar positional cues to ingrowing retinal axons.

Volume

146

Issue

1

First Page

164

Last Page

176

DOI

10.1016/j.cell.2011.06.016

ISSN

00928674

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Xiao, Tong; Staub, Wendy; Robles, Estuardo; Gosse, Nathan J.; Cole, Gregory J.; and Baier, Herwig, "Assembly of Lamina-Specific Neuronal Connections by Slit Bound to Type IV Collagen" (2011). Neuroscience: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/nsc_facpubs/71