Spatially and functionally distinct roles of the PI3-K effector pathway during NGF signaling in sympathetic neurons

Rejji Kuruvilla, Haihong Ye, David D. Ginty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

188 Scopus citations

Abstract

NGF is a target-derived growth factor for developing sympathetic neurons. Here, we show that application of NGF exclusively to distal axons of sympathetic neurons leads to an increase in PI3-K signaling in both distal axons and cell bodies. In addition, there is a more critical dependence on PI3-K for survival of neurons supported by NGF acting exclusively on distal axons as compared to neurons supported by NGF acting directly on cell bodies. Interestingly, PI3-K signaling within both cell bodies and distal axons contributes to survival of neurons. The requirement for PI3-K signaling in distal axons for survival may be explained by the finding that inhibition of PI3-K in the distal axons attenuates retrograde signaling. Therefore, a single TrkA effector, PI3-K, has multiple roles within spatially distinct cellular locales during retrograde NGF signaling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)499-512
Number of pages14
JournalNeuron
Volume27
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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