Distinct roles of nerve and muscle in postsynaptic differentiation of the neuromuscular synapse.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2001
Keywords
Animal, Axons, Cell-Differentiation, Mice, Motor-Neurons, Muscle-Development, Muscle-Proteins, Muscle-Skeletal, Neuromuscular-Junction, Receptor-Protein-Tyrosine-Kinases, Receptors-Cholinergic, SUPPORT-NON-U-S-GOVT, SUPPORT-U-S-GOVT-P-H-S, Synapses
First Page
1057
Last Page
1064
JAX Source
Nature 2001 Apr; 410(6832):1057-64.
Abstract
The development of chemical synapses is regulated by interactions between pre- and postsynaptic cells. At the vertebrate skeletal neuromuscular junction, the organization of an acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-rich postsynaptic apparatus has been well studied. Much evidence suggests that the nerve-derived protein agrin activates muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) to cluster AChRs through the synapse-specific cytoplasmic protein rapsyn. But how postsynaptic differentiation is initiated, or why most synapses are restricted to an 'end-plate band' in the middle of the muscle remains unknown. Here we have used genetic methods to address these issues. We report that the initial steps in postsynaptic differentiation and formation of an end-plate band require MuSK and rapsyn, but are not dependent on agrin or the presence of motor axons. In contrast, the subsequent stages of synaptic growth and maintenance require nerve-derived agrin, and a second nerve-derived signal that disperses ectopic postsynaptic apparatus.
Recommended Citation
Lin W,
Burgess RW,
Dominguez B,
Pfaff SL,
Sanes JR,
Lee KF.
Distinct roles of nerve and muscle in postsynaptic differentiation of the neuromuscular synapse. Nature 2001 Apr; 410(6832):1057-64.