Par6alpha signaling controls glial-guided neuronal migration

Authors:
Solecki DJ, Model L, Gaetz J, Kapoor TM and Hatten ME
In:
Source: Nat Neurosci
Publication Date: (2004)
Issue: 7(11): 1195-1203
Research Area:
Neurobiology
Cells used in publication:
Granule cell (CGC), mouse
Species: mouse
Tissue Origin: brain
Platform:
Nucleofector® I/II/2b
Abstract
Neuronal migrations along glial fibers provide a primary pathway for the formation of cortical laminae. To examine the mechanisms underlying glial-guided migration, we analyzed the dynamics of cytoskeletal and signaling components in living neurons. Migration involves the coordinated two-stroke movement of a perinuclear tubulin 'cage' and the centrosome, with the centrosome moving forward before nuclear translocation. Overexpression of mPar6alpha disrupts the perinuclear tubulin cage, retargets PKCzeta and gamma-tubulin away from the centrosome, and inhibits centrosomal motion and neuronal migration. Thus, we propose that during neuronal migration the centrosome acts to coordinate cytoskeletal dynamics in response to mPar6alpha-mediated signaling.