Journal article
Control of CNS Synapse Development by γ-Protocadherin-Mediated Astrocyte–Neuron Contact
The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.29(38), pp.11723-11731
09/23/2009
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2818-09.2009
PMCID: PMC2778296
PMID: 19776259
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that astrocytes, whose processes enwrap synaptic terminals, promote synapse formation both by releasing soluble factors and through contact-dependent mechanisms. Although astrocyte-secreted synaptogenic factors have been identified, the molecules underlying perisynaptic astroctye–neuron contacts are unknown. Here we show that the γ-protocadherins (γ-Pcdhs), a family of 22 neuronal adhesion molecules encoded by a single gene cluster, are also expressed by astrocytes and localize to their perisynaptic processes. Using cocultures in which either astrocytes or neurons are
Pcdh
-γ-null, we find that astrocyte–neuron γ-Pcdh contacts are critical for synaptogenesis in developing cultures. Synaptogenesis can eventually proceed among neurons cocultured with
Pcdh
-γ-null astrocytes, but only if these neurons themselves express the γ-Pcdhs. Consistent with this, restricted mutation of the
Pcdh
-γ cluster in astrocytes
in vivo
significantly delays both excitatory and inhibitory synapse formation. Together, these results identify the first known contact-dependent mechanism by which perisynaptic astrocyte processes promote synaptogenesis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Control of CNS Synapse Development by γ-Protocadherin-Mediated Astrocyte–Neuron Contact
- Creators
- Andrew M Garrett - Department of Biology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242Joshua A Weiner - Department of Biology, Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.29(38), pp.11723-11731
- DOI
- 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2818-09.2009
- PMID
- 19776259
- PMCID
- PMC2778296
- NLM abbreviation
- J Neurosci
- ISSN
- 0270-6474
- eISSN
- 1529-2401
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/23/2009
- Academic Unit
- Liberal Arts and Science Admin; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9983997987902771
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