The effects of Wnt7b signalling on axonal morphology.

NEILA, LORENA; ROSSO SB

Carlos Paz

Congreso; XXXIV Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de neurociencia; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de neurociencia SAN

In the nervous system, Wnt secreted molecules play important roles in the formation of functional neuronal circuits by regulating axon pathfinding and remodeling, dendritic development and synapse assembly. Importantly, Wnt proteins regulate cytoskeletal network and the activity of different effectors to control neuronal polarity, axon and dendrite development and maturation. It has extensively been shown that Wnts directly regulate the dynamic and organization of microtubules. In this work, we evaluate the potential role of Wnt7b during earlier neuronal development, particularly on axonal growth. Our findings suggest that Wnt7b is specific involved in the establishment of neuronal polarity and in axonal outgrowth. To go further, we examined the intracellular signaling triggered by Wnt7b. Pharmacological inhibition of non canonical pathway reveals that inhibition JNK (PCP pathway) abolished the Wnt7b mediated axonal effects over axonal architecture. Consistently, we then evidenced the JNK activation by Wnt7b using western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. More analyses need to be performed in order to determine whether the cellular mechanism by Wnt7b modulates axonal morphology involves changes on JNK mediated-microtubule stability. To go further, we will evaluate the contribution of small Rho GTPases, as critical regulators of microtubule dynamic, on Wnt7b axonal effect.