Necl-4/SynCAM-4 is expressed in myelinating oligodendrocytes but not required for axonal myelination

PLoS One. 2013 May 20;8(5):e64264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064264. Print 2013.

Abstract

The timing and progression of axonal myelination are precisely controlled by intercellular interactions between neurons and glia in development. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that Nectin like 4 (Necl-4, also known as cell adhesion molecule Cadm-4 or SynCAM-4) plays an essential role in axonal myelination by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). However, the role of Necl-4 protein in axonal myelination in the developing central nervous system (CNS) has remained unknown. In this study, we discovered upregulation of Necl-4 expression in mature oligodendrocytes at perinatal stages when axons undergo active myelination. We generated Necl4 gene knockout mice, but found that disruption of Necl-4 gene did not affect oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation in the CNS. Surprisingly, disruption of Necl-4 had no significant effect on axonal myelination in the PNS either. Therefore, our results demonstrated that Necl-4 is dispensable for axonal myelination in the developing nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism*
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism*
  • Oligodendroglia / physiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System / cytology
  • Peripheral Nervous System / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / cytology
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Cadm1 protein, mouse
  • Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.2
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Igsf4b protein, mouse
  • Igsf4c protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Olig1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zebrafish Proteins