Our work demonstrates the presence of axo-glial septate junctions (AGSJs) in Drosophila nerves and establishes structural and molecular similarities between Drosophila and vertebrate AGSJs. Drosophila proteins: Neurexin IV (NRX IV), Contactin (CONT) and Neuroglian (NRG) form a tripartite complex that localizes to AGSJs. Their murine orthologs Contactin-associated protein (Caspr), Contactin (Cont) and Neurofascin (NF155) also form a complex at the paranodal AGSJs in myelinated axons. Drosophila nrx IV, cont and nrg, and mouse Caspr, Cont and NF155 mutants all fail to organize AGSJs. In addition, double mutant combinations and triple mutants of nrx IV, cont and nrg in Drosophila show severe peripheral glial migration defects and axonal degeneration in embryonic peripheral nerves, pointing to an important relationship between axon-glial interactions and axonal/glial cytoskeleton. We also discovered that in the embryonic CNS midline NRX IV functions independent of CONT and NRG, and interacts in trans with a midline glia-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) domain protein, Wrapper (WRAP). This interaction coordinates axon-glial interactions, axonal ensheathment and glial migration in the CNS midline. Together these studies lead us to hypothesize that glial migration, ensheathment, and axon degeneration are mechanistically linked. Our findings provide the basis to approach the fundamental question of how axonal ensheathment is coordinated with underlying axonal and glial cytoskeletal elements during neuron-glial interactions. Most importantly, we ask which axon-glial signaling mechanisms are essential for maintaining axonal health and neuronal functions. Identification of these mechanisms using in vivo genetic analysis will provide a basis for our attempts to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms precipitating pathological demyelination and impeding remyelination.

Public Health Relevance

Molecular Characterization of Axon-Glial Interactions The studies described in this renewal grant application relate to the genetic and molecular mechanisms that govern axonal ensheathment, establishment of neuro-glial scaffolds and organization of specialized electron-dense structures, the axo-glial septate junctions (AGSJs). This unique structure coordinates axonal domains and allows myelinated axons to propagate nerve impulses in a saltatory manner. Better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that underlie axonal ensheathment and organization of axonal domains will help in designing future therapeutic strategies to myelin-related diseases or demyelination disorders like for example multiple sclerosis (MS) where remyelination is required and the axonal domain structure must be preserved to allow action potential propagation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS050356-09
Application #
8601138
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia Study Section (CMBG)
Program Officer
Morris, Jill A
Project Start
2006-04-01
Project End
2016-11-30
Budget Start
2013-12-01
Budget End
2014-11-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$291,655
Indirect Cost
$94,780
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Banerjee, Swati; Riordan, Maeveen (2018) Coordinated Regulation of Axonal Microtubule Organization and Transport by Drosophila Neurexin and BMP Pathway. Sci Rep 8:17337
Saifetiarova, Julia; Liu, Xi; Taylor, Anna M et al. (2017) Axonal domain disorganization in Caspr1 and Caspr2 mutant myelinated axons affects neuromuscular junction integrity, leading to muscle atrophy. J Neurosci Res 95:1373-1390
Banerjee, Swati; Mino, Rosa E; Fisher, Elizabeth S et al. (2017) A versatile genetic tool to study midline glia function in the Drosophila CNS. Dev Biol 429:35-43
Banerjee, Swati; Venkatesan, Anandakrishnan; Bhat, Manzoor A (2017) Neurexin, Neuroligin and Wishful Thinking coordinate synaptic cytoarchitecture and growth at neuromuscular junctions. Mol Cell Neurosci 78:9-24
Mino, Rosa E; Rogers, Stephen L; Risinger, April L et al. (2016) Drosophila Ringmaker regulates microtubule stabilization and axonal extension during embryonic development. J Cell Sci 129:3282-94
Buttermore, Elizabeth D; Thaxton, Courtney L; Bhat, Manzoor A (2013) Organization and maintenance of molecular domains in myelinated axons. J Neurosci Res 91:603-22
Buttermore, Elizabeth D; Piochon, Claire; Wallace, Michael L et al. (2012) Pinceau organization in the cerebellum requires distinct functions of neurofascin in Purkinje and basket neurons during postnatal development. J Neurosci 32:4724-42
Chen, Yu-Chi; Lin, Yong Qi; Banerjee, Swati et al. (2012) Drosophila neuroligin 2 is required presynaptically and postsynaptically for proper synaptic differentiation and synaptic transmission. J Neurosci 32:16018-30
Thaxton, Courtney; Pillai, Anilkumar M; Pribisko, Alaine L et al. (2011) Nodes of Ranvier act as barriers to restrict invasion of flanking paranodal domains in myelinated axons. Neuron 69:244-57
Buttermore, Elizabeth D; Dupree, Jeffrey L; Cheng, JrGang et al. (2011) The cytoskeletal adaptor protein band 4.1B is required for the maintenance of paranodal axoglial septate junctions in myelinated axons. J Neurosci 31:8013-24

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