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The Company of Biologists, Development, 3(137), p. 427-435, 2010

DOI: 10.1242/dev.042515

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Nectin-like molecules/SynCAMs are required for post-crossing commissural axon guidance

Journal article published in 2010 by V. Niederkofler, T. Baeriswyl, E. T. Stoeckli ORCID, R. Ott
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The Necl/SynCAM subgroup of immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecules has been implicated in late stages of neural circuit formation. They were shown to be sufficient for synaptogenesis by their trans-synaptic interactions. Additionally, they are involved in myelination, both in the central and the peripheral nervous system, by mediating adhesion between glia cells and axons. Here, we show that Necls/SynCAMs are also required for early stages of neural circuit formation. We demonstrate a role for Necls/SynCAMs in post-crossing commissural axon guidance in the developing spinal cord in vivo. Necl3/SynCAM2, the family member that has not been characterized functionally so far, plays a crucial role in this process. It is expressed by floorplate cells and interacts with Necls/SynCAMs expressed by commissural axons to mediate a turning response in post-crossing commissural axons.