Correct functioning of the visual system requires a precise set of axonal connections from the eye to the brain. If these connections develop abnormally, or are later damaged by injury or degeneration, vision may be impaired or lost. The broad long-term objective of the project is to identify and characterize cell-cell signaling molecules involved in the development and regeneration of visual neuronal connections. In the adult visual system, like other parts of the CNS, axons show very limited capacity for regeneration. This is due, at least in part, to endogenous regeneration inhibitors, leading to great interest in strategies that might overcome the effect of these inhibitors, and thus promote plasticity and regeneration. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) have long been known as an important class of inhibitors, but no corresponding receptor had been identified, limiting further molecular progress in this area. In recent work, we identified Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase sigma (PTPsigma) as a receptor for CSPGs, opening up new opportunities to study mechanisms in regeneration and potential therapeutic strategies. The role of this receptor in regeneration is confirmed by the effects of PTPsigma gene deficiency, which enhances regeneration, including of retinal axons in the optic nerve. In other recent work, we have shown that PTPsigma acts as a ligand-specific molecular switch, mediating not only CSPG inhibition but also heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) promotion of axon extension, providing a paradigm to understand opposing effects of CSPGs and HSPGs.
Aim 1 has two inter-related goals: first, to better understand the basic biology of the interaction between PTPsigma and its proteoglycan ligands;and second, to explore compounds that can promote axon growth and optic nerve regeneration. Whereas Aim 1 focuses on extracellular interactions of PTPsigma, Aim 2 explores downstream transmembrane and intracellular signaling mechanisms. The prior work identifying HSPG and CSPG ligands for PTPsigma opens up new opportunities to understand the downstream mechanistic basis for the contrasting effects of these proteoglycans, and simultaneously to make new progress in understanding basic mechanisms of signaling by the receptor PTP family. Finally, Aim 3 proposes to continue studies of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and its binding partners expressed in the developing retinotectal system. While APP processing to beta-amyloid is known to have important roles in pathology, neither the normal developmental functions of APP nor the mechanisms that regulate its processing are yet well understood. Binding partners for APP have been identified which are prominently expressed in retinotectal development, and can affect retinal axon growth and APP processing. Further studies will provide improved understanding of these molecular interactions, with potential implications for development, degeneration and regeneration.

Public Health Relevance

For the visual system to function, a precise set of neuronal connections must exist from the eye to the brain. If these connections develop abnormally, or are damaged by injury or degeneration, vision may be permanently impaired or lost. The project involves identification and characterization of molecular cues involved in the development, degeneration, and regeneration of visual neural connections.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY011559-20A1
Application #
8296865
Study Section
Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration Study Section (NDPR)
Program Officer
Steinmetz, Michael A
Project Start
1996-09-30
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$463,849
Indirect Cost
$189,382
Name
Harvard University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Preitner, Nicolas; Quan, Jie; Li, Xinmin et al. (2016) IMP2 axonal localization, RNA interactome, and function in the development of axon trajectories. Development 143:2753-9
Preitner, Nicolas; Quan, Jie; Nowakowski, Dan W et al. (2014) APC is an RNA-binding protein, and its interactome provides a link to neural development and microtubule assembly. Cell 158:368-382
Hancock, Melissa L; Preitner, Nicolas; Quan, Jie et al. (2014) MicroRNA-132 is enriched in developing axons, locally regulates Rasa1 mRNA, and promotes axon extension. J Neurosci 34:66-78
Preitner, Nicolas; Quan, Jie; Flanagan, John G (2013) This message will self-destruct: NMD regulates axon guidance. Cell 153:1185-7
Preitner, Nicolas; Flanagan, John G (2012) Axonal mRNA translation: an unexpected link to axon survival and the mitochondrion. Neuron 73:629-31
Coles, Charlotte H; Shen, Yingjie; Tenney, Alan P et al. (2011) Proteoglycan-specific molecular switch for RPTP? clustering and neuronal extension. Science 332:484-8
Tcherkezian, Joseph; Brittis, Perry A; Thomas, Franziska et al. (2010) Transmembrane receptor DCC associates with protein synthesis machinery and regulates translation. Cell 141:632-44
Shen, Yingjie; Tenney, Alan P; Busch, Sarah A et al. (2009) PTPsigma is a receptor for chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, an inhibitor of neural regeneration. Science 326:592-6
Chen, Yao; Mohammadi, Moosa; Flanagan, John G (2009) Graded levels of FGF protein span the midbrain and can instruct graded induction and repression of neural mapping labels. Neuron 62:773-80
Osterfield, Miriam; Egelund, Rikke; Young, Lauren M et al. (2008) Interaction of amyloid precursor protein with contactins and NgCAM in the retinotectal system. Development 135:1189-99

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