2014-06-17 05:38:38
比利時(shí)VIB維薩里研究中心研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)神經(jīng)元連接的準(zhǔn)確建立依賴于Dscam1蛋白,也就是說(shuō)不同Dscam1亞型決定著哪些神經(jīng)元相互連接,哪些神經(jīng)元應(yīng)該相互排斥。 |
復(fù)雜的人類大腦被稱為是“進(jìn)化的最高成就”,大腦中的神經(jīng)元如何彼此連接形成復(fù)雜網(wǎng)絡(luò),是生物學(xué)中最大的謎題之一。正是這些網(wǎng)絡(luò)讓我們能夠正確感知世界、控制自身活動(dòng)并且做出各種決定。盡管人們一直在努力理解神經(jīng)元之間的線性連接,但對(duì)整個(gè)網(wǎng)絡(luò)的形成機(jī)制還是知之甚少。
比利時(shí)VIB維薩里研究中心的Dietmar Schmucker領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的研究團(tuán)隊(duì)之前在果蠅中鑒定了一種名為Dscam1的蛋白。神經(jīng)元能夠合成數(shù)以千計(jì)的Dscam1亞型,這些蛋白存在于神經(jīng)元的表面,是神經(jīng)元的重要“身份標(biāo)簽”。研究顯示,神經(jīng)元連接的準(zhǔn)確建立依賴于這些蛋白,也就是說(shuō)不同Dscam1亞型決定著哪些神經(jīng)元相互連接,哪些神經(jīng)元應(yīng)該相互排斥。
Schmucker實(shí)驗(yàn)室的Haihuai H和Yoshiaki Kise在這項(xiàng)研究中發(fā)現(xiàn),同一個(gè)軸突中也存在著不同的Dscam1亞型,這些蛋白分布于新形成的分支之間。若非如此,神經(jīng)元之間就只能形成線性連接,無(wú)法組成復(fù)雜的網(wǎng)絡(luò)。這項(xiàng)研究首次向人們展示了,不同Dscam1亞型在同一神經(jīng)元中的重要作用,揭示了大腦復(fù)雜神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡(luò)的形成機(jī)制。
盡管這項(xiàng)研究是在果蠅中進(jìn)行的,但它有助于進(jìn)一步理解人類大腦中的神經(jīng)“布線”,為自閉癥等神經(jīng)疾病的治療提供了重要的啟示。徹底了解神經(jīng)元的形成和互作機(jī)制,將為日后的干細(xì)胞治療打下堅(jiān)實(shí)的基礎(chǔ)。(來(lái)源:生物幫)
原文摘要:
Cell-intrinsic requirement of Dscam1 isoform diversity for axon collateral formation
Haihuai He, Yoshiaki Kise, Azadeh Izadifar, Olivier Urwyler, Derya Ayaz,Akhila Parthasarthy, Bing Yan, Maria-Luise Erfurth, Dan DASCenco, Dietmar Schmucker
The isoform diversity of the Drosophila Dscam1 receptor is important for neuronal self-recognition and self-avoidance. A canonical model suggests that homophilic binding of identical Dscam1 receptor isoforms on sister dendrites ensures self-avoidance even when only a single isoform is expressed. We detected a cell-intrinsic function of Dscam1 that requires the coexpression of multiple isoforms. Manipulation of the Dscam1 isoform pool in single neurons caused severe disruption of collateral formation of mechanosensory axons. Changes in isoform abundance led to dominant dosage-sensitive inhibition of branching. We propose that the ratio of matching to nonmatching isoforms within a cell influences the Dscam1-mediated signaling strength, which in turn controls axon growth and growth cone sprouting. Cell-intrinsic use of surface receptor diversity may be of general importance in regulating axonal branching during brain wiring.
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