Within the retina, neurons are organized vertically into functionally distinct layers, and horizontally into mosaic patterns, in which cells of the same type (homotypic cells) are evenly spaced from one another. This organization is the anatomical basis for the circuits that form within the retina, and is a general principle governing the cellular anatomy of other parts of the brain. The molecular signals that allow cells of the same type to recognize one another and space themselves accordingly are not well understood. It is our goal to understand the molecular mechanisms that direct these neurodevelopmental processes, focusing on matrix and adhesion molecules as the molecular labels that will define homotypic cells. We have identified a mutation in mice that eliminates self-recognition in a subset of retinal neurons. This is the first mutation identified to alter mosaic formation in the retina. Positional cloning identified the mutation as an internal deletion in Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam), which creates a loss of function allele. The subtypes of amacrine cells that would normally express Dscam fail to arborize their processes, which instead fasciculate and pull the cell bodies out of their mosaic pattern. This phenotype is consistent with a failure of these cells to recognize their homotypic partners and maintain their mosaic spacing. Ganglion cells are also affected by the Dscam mutation, but their phenotypes may, in part, be secondary to the disruption of upstream amacrine cell inputs. In this proposal, we will examine how homophilic adhesion of cells expressing Dscam, or the related Dscam-like1, serves to identify homotypic populations of amacrine and ganglion cells during the formation of retinal circuits. We propose three specific aims. In the first, we will examine the morphology, spacing, and the maintenance of axonal connectivity of retinal ganglion cells using a newly generated Dscam conditional allele to delete the gene inducibly or specifically in ganglion cells. We will determine whether the defects observed are primary effects from the loss of Dscam function in the ganglion cells, or are secondary to perturbations in amacrine/ganglion cell circuits. In the second, we will study intracellular effectors of DSCAM function. We have identified the PDZ-domain containing proteins MAGI-2 and -3 as binding the C-terminus of DSCAM. We will examine the significance and specificity of these interactions in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the Dscam-like1 gene is expressed in a similar but non-overlapping population of retinal neurons, leading us to hypothesize that other populations of neurons will use different DSCAM-related proteins for self-recognition. We will test this in our third aim by deleting Dscam-like1 in the mouse. We anticipate a similar phenotype in a different population of retinal cells, as suggested by our preliminary studies of these knockout mice. In total, these studies address the molecular basis of homotypic recognition and the formation of neuronal mosaics, fundamental processes in neurodevelopment, and have implications for neurodevelopmental pathologies seen in human congenital diseases such as Down Syndrome.

Public Health Relevance

We are proposing to study the involvement of the mouse ortholog of Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (DSCAM) in the cellular recognition events that direct retinal development. The DSCAM gene in humans is in the region of Chromosome 21 associated with Down Syndrome trisomies. Our preliminary results make it clear that Dscam in mice plays an important role in neurodevelopment. Understanding the basic molecular mechanisms of Dscam's function will help to define its possible role in the neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with Down Syndrome, and possibly human congenital retinopathies as well.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01EY018605-01A1
Application #
7588424
Study Section
Neurodifferentiation, Plasticity, and Regeneration Study Section (NDPR)
Program Officer
Greenwell, Thomas
Project Start
2008-12-01
Project End
2012-11-30
Budget Start
2008-12-01
Budget End
2009-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$435,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Jackson Laboratory
Department
Type
DUNS #
042140483
City
Bar Harbor
State
ME
Country
United States
Zip Code
04609
Garrett, Andrew M; Tadenev, Abigail Ld; Hammond, Yuna T et al. (2016) Replacing the PDZ-interacting C-termini of DSCAM and DSCAML1 with epitope tags causes different phenotypic severity in different cell populations. Elife 5:
Schramm, R Dee; Li, Shuai; Harris, Belinda S et al. (2012) A novel mouse Dscam mutation inhibits localization and shedding of DSCAM. PLoS One 7:e52652
Keeley, Patrick W; Sliff, Buranee J; Lee, Sammy C S et al. (2012) Neuronal clustering and fasciculation phenotype in Dscam- and Bax-deficient mouse retinas. J Comp Neurol 520:1349-64
Burgess, Robert W; Garrett, Andrew M; Tadenev, Abigail L D (2012) Contact is repulsive, but please note the ""enclosed"". Dev Cell 22:5-6
Fuerst, Peter G; Bruce, Freyja; Rounds, Ryan P et al. (2012) Cell autonomy of DSCAM function in retinal development. Dev Biol 361:326-37
Blank, Martina; Fuerst, Peter G; Stevens, Beth et al. (2011) The Down syndrome critical region regulates retinogeniculate refinement. J Neurosci 31:5764-76
Davisson, Muriel T; Bronson, Roderick T; Tadenev, Abigail L D et al. (2011) A spontaneous mutation in contactin 1 in the mouse. PLoS One 6:e29538
Garrett, Andrew M; Burgess, Robert W (2011) Candidate molecular mechanisms for establishing cell identity in the developing retina. Dev Neurobiol 71:1258-72
Fuerst, Peter G; Harris, Belinda S; Johnson, Kenneth R et al. (2010) A novel null allele of mouse Dscam survives to adulthood on an inbred C3H background with reduced phenotypic variability. Genesis 48:spcone
Fuerst, Peter G; Harris, Belinda S; Johnson, Kenneth R et al. (2010) A novel null allele of mouse DSCAM survives to adulthood on an inbred C3H background with reduced phenotypic variability. Genesis 48:578-84

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