QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, January 28, 2004, 24(4):808-818; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4610-03.2004

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (53) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Niederkofler, V. Articles by Arber, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Niederkofler, V. Articles by Arber, S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Development/Plasticity/Repair
Repulsive Guidance Molecule (RGM) Gene Function Is Required for Neural Tube Closure But Not Retinal Topography in the Mouse Visual System

Vera Niederkofler,^1 * Rishard Salie,^1 * Markus Sigrist,¹ and Silvia Arber^1,2

¹Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland, and ²Friedrich Miescher Institute, 4058 Basel, Switzerland

The establishment of topographic projections in the developing visual system depends on the spatially and temporally controlled expression of axon guidance molecules. In the developing chick tectum, the graded expression of the repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) has been proposed to be involved in controlling the topography of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon termination zones along the anteroposterior axis of the tectum. We now show that there are three mouse proteins homologous to chick RGM displaying similar proteolytic processing but exhibiting differential cell-surface targeting by glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor addition. Two members of this gene family (mRGMa and mRGMb) are expressed in complementary patterns in the nervous system, and mRGMa is expressed prominently in the superior colliculus at the time of anteroposterior targeting of RGC axons. The third member of the family (mRGMc) is expressed almost exclusively in skeletal muscles. Functional studies in the mouse reveal a role for mRGMa in controlling cephalic neural tube closure, thus defining an unexpected role for mRGMa in early embryonic development. In contrast, mRGMa mutant mice did not exhibit defects in anteroposterior targeting of RGC axons to their stereotypic termination zones in the superior colliculus.

Key words: RGM; retinal topography; exencephaly; neural tube closure; GPI; axon guidance

---

Received Oct 15, 2003; revised November 19, 2003; accepted November 21, 2003.

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help