September 12, 2018
Keio University School of Medicine
Project Associate Professor Ken-ichiro Kuwako and Professor Hideyuki Okano of the Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, have discovered a key mechanism by which neurons correctly spatially arrange their neurites to form functional neural networks.
Elaborate neural networks in the brain are the foundation for various brain functions such as motor control, perception, learning, and memory, and abnormalities in these networks are considered a cause of many diseases, including psychiatric disorders. For neural networks to form correctly, it is essential that each neuron shapes its neurites and connects them appropriately according to a developmental blueprint. Dendrites, which receive signals from other neurons, have complex branching shapes. Spatially arranging them to avoid overlapping with each other enables correct circuit connections. However, the mechanisms controlling the spatial arrangement of dendrites have remained largely a mystery. In this study, using mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells, which are neurons responsible for motor control, as a model, the researchers discovered that the kinase LKB1 controls the placement of cell surface molecules on dendrites. This prevents dendrites from crossing or touching each other, thereby establishing their correct spatial arrangement.
This research clarifies the molecular mechanisms in the functional morphogenesis of neurites and is expected to contribute to improving the function of transplanted neurons through morphological control in future neural regenerative medicine using iPS cells.
The results of this research were published in the online edition of Cell Reports on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 (U.S. Eastern Time).
For the full press release, please see below.