Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Biomedical Neuroscience, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
J Neurosci Res. 2019 Mar;97(3):313-331. doi: 10.1002/jnr.24352. Epub 2018 Nov 17.
The cerebellar cortex receives neural information from other brain regions to allow fine motor coordination and motor learning. The primary output neurons from the cerebellum are the Purkinje neurons that transmit inhibitory responses to deep cerebellar nuclei through their myelinated axons. Altered morphological organization and electrical properties of the Purkinje axons lead to detrimental changes in locomotor activity often leading to cerebellar ataxias. Two cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins Band 4.1B (4.1B) and Whirlin (Whrn) have been previously shown to play independent roles in axonal domain organization and maintenance in myelinated axons in the spinal cord and sciatic nerves. Immunoblot analysis had indicated cerebellar expression for both 4.1B and Whrn; however, their subcellular localization and cerebellum-specific functions have not been characterized. Using 4.1B and Whrn single and double mutant animals, we show that both proteins are expressed in common cellular compartments of the cerebellum and play cooperative roles in preservation of the integrity of Purkinje neuron myelinated axons. We demonstrate that both 4.1B and Whrn are required for the maintenance of axonal ultrastructure and health. Loss of 4.1B and Whrn leads to axonal transport defects manifested by formation of swellings containing cytoskeletal components, membranous organelles, and vesicles. Moreover, ablation of both proteins progressively affects cerebellar function with impairment in locomotor performance detected by altered gait parameters. Together, our data indicate that 4.1B and Whrn are required for maintaining proper axonal cytoskeletal organization and axonal domains, which is necessary for cerebellum-controlled fine motor coordination.
小脑皮层从其他大脑区域接收神经信息,以实现精细的运动协调和运动学习。小脑的主要输出神经元是浦肯野神经元,它们通过其有髓鞘的轴突向深部小脑核传递抑制性反应。浦肯野轴突的形态组织和电特性的改变导致运动活动的有害变化,经常导致小脑共济失调。两种细胞骨架支架蛋白 4.1B(4.1B)和 Whirlin(Whrn)以前被证明在脊髓和坐骨神经的有髓鞘轴突中独立发挥作用,调节轴突结构域的组织和维持。免疫印迹分析表明 4.1B 和 Whrn 在小脑中有表达;然而,它们的亚细胞定位和小脑特异性功能尚未得到描述。使用 4.1B 和 Whrn 单突变和双突变动物,我们表明这两种蛋白都在小脑的共同细胞区室中表达,并在维持浦肯野神经元有髓鞘轴突的完整性方面发挥合作作用。我们证明 4.1B 和 Whrn 都需要维持轴突的超微结构和健康。4.1B 和 Whrn 的缺失导致轴突运输缺陷,表现为含有细胞骨架成分、膜细胞器和囊泡的肿胀形成。此外,两种蛋白的缺失逐渐影响小脑功能,通过改变步态参数检测到运动性能受损。总之,我们的数据表明 4.1B 和 Whrn 对于维持适当的轴突细胞骨架组织和轴突结构域是必需的,这对于小脑控制的精细运动协调是必需的。