PACT/RAX Regulates the Migration of Cerebellar Granule Neurons in the Developing Cerebellum

Authors

Yue Yong, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Ya Meng, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Hanqing Ding, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Zhiqin Fan, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Yifen Tang, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Chenghua Zhou, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Jia Luo, University of KentuckyFollow
Zun-Ji Ke, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China

Abstract

PACT and its murine ortholog RAX were originally identified as a protein activator for the dsRNA-dependent, interferon-inducible protein kinase PKR. Recent studies indicated that RAX played a role in embryogenesis and neuronal development. In this study, we investigated the expression of RAX during the postnatal development of the mouse cerebellum and its role in the migration of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). High expression of RAX was observed in the cerebellum from postnatal day (PD) 4 to PD9, a period when the CGNs migrate from the external granule layer (EGL) to the internal granule layer (IGL). The migration of the EGL progenitor cells in vivo was inhibited by RAX knockdown on PD4. This finding was confirmed by in vitro studies showing that RAX knockdown impaired the migration of CGNs in cerebellar microexplants. PACT/RAX-regulated migration required its third motif and was independent of PKR. PACT/RAX interacted with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and PACT/RAX knockdown disturbed the FAK phosphorylation in CGNs. These findings demonstrated a novel function of PACT/RAX in the regulation of neuronal migration.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-22-2015

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Scientific Reports, v. 5, article 7961, p. 1-10.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep07961

Funding Information

This research was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2010CB912000), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271142), the Program of Clinical Research Center, Institute for Nutritional Sciences and Xuhui Central Hospital (CRC20100010). Dr. J. Luo was supported by a grant from NIH/NIAAA (AA015407).

Repository Citation

Yong, Yue; Meng, Ya; Ding, Hanqing; Fan, Zhiqin; Tang, Yifen; Zhou, Chenghua; Luo, Jia; and Ke, Zun-Ji, "PACT/RAX Regulates the Migration of Cerebellar Granule Neurons in the Developing Cerebellum" (2015). Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications. 29.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pharmacol_facpub/29