p130CAS is required for netrin signaling and commissural axon guidance

J Neurosci. 2007 Jan 24;27(4):957-68. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4616-06.2007.

Abstract

Netrins are an important family of axon guidance cues. Here, we report that netrin-1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of p130(CAS) (Crk-associated substrate). Our biochemical studies indicate that p130(CAS) is downstream of the Src family kinases and upstream of the small GTPase Rac1 and Cdc42. Inhibition of p130(CAS) signaling blocks both the neurite outgrowth-promoting activity and the axon attraction activity of netrin-1. p130(CAS) RNA interference inhibits the attraction of commissural axons in the spinal cord by netrin-1 and causes defects in commissural axon projection in the embryo. These results demonstrate that p130(CAS) is a key component in the netrin signal transduction pathway and plays an important role in guiding commissural axons in vivo.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Axons / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chick Embryo
  • Crk-Associated Substrate Protein / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
  • Netrin-1
  • Pregnancy
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / physiology

Substances

  • Crk-Associated Substrate Protein
  • NTN1 protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Ntn1 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Netrin-1
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein