Myelin-associated inhibitors regulate cofilin phosphorylation and neuronal inhibition through LIM kinase and Slingshot phosphatase

J Neurosci. 2006 Jan 18;26(3):1006-15. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2806-05.2006.

Abstract

Myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) signal through a tripartate receptor complex on neurons to limit axon regeneration in the CNS. Inhibitory influences ultimately converge on the cytoskeleton to mediate growth cone collapse and neurite outgrowth inhibition. Rho GTPase and its downstream effector Rho kinase are key signaling intermediates in response to MAIs; however, the links between Rho and the actin cytoskeleton have not been fully defined. We found that Nogo-66, a potent inhibitory fragment of Nogo-A, signals through LIM (LIM is an acronym of the three gene products Lin-11, Isl-1, and Mec-3) kinase and Slingshot (SSH) phosphatase to regulate the phosphorylation profile of the actin depolymerization factor cofilin. Blockade of LIMK1 activation and subsequent cofilin phosphorylation circumvents myelin-dependent inhibition in chick dorsal root ganglion neurons, suggesting that phosphorylation and inactivation of cofilin is critical for neuronal inhibitory responses. Subsequent activation of SSH1 phosphatase mediates cofilin dephosphorylation and reactivation. Overexpression of SSH1 does not mimic the neurite outgrowth inhibitory effects of myelin, suggesting an alternative role in MAI inhibition. We speculate that SSH-mediated persistent cofilin activation may be responsible for maintaining an inhibited neuronal phenotype in response to myelin inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Lim Kinases
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism
  • Myelin Proteins / physiology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / physiology*
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology*
  • Nogo Proteins
  • PC12 Cells
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Nogo Proteins
  • RTN4 protein, human
  • Rtn4 protein, rat
  • Protein Kinases
  • LIMK1 protein, human
  • Lim Kinases
  • Limk1 protein, rat
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • SSH1 protein, human