Neurological diseases: crucial interactions in neuronal development

A team led by D^r Frédéric Charron, professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal and director of the Research Unit in Molecular Biology of Neural Development at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), discovered an important interaction between the complex WAVE and the Boc receptor, essential for axonal guidance.

Guidance is the step of directing axons – the longest part of a neuron and through which the nerve impulse is propagated outside the cell – which allows them to be directed correctly towards their target.

The actin cytoskeleton is a network of proteins within cells that, similar to the human skeleton, provides structure and support and allows the movement of axons. The extensive work of the D^r Charron show that the WAVE complex, already known for its role in actin cytoskeleton assembly, interacts directly with the Boc receptor, which is crucial for signaling triggered by the guidance molecule Sonic Hedgehog (Shh). This interaction is vital for proper guidance of developing axons.

The complexity of axonal guidance

During embryonic development, the Shh molecule acts as a guidance signal, attracting axons. The D^r Charron, who also holds the Canada Research Chair in developmental neurobiology, and his team had previously demonstrated that the Boc receptor mediates this attraction. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully understood. This research points to the WAVE complex as a key player in this process. The WAVE complex, through its interaction with the Boc receptor, facilitates the cytoskeletal changes necessary for axonal guidance.

Defective axonal guidance and neurological diseases

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of axonal guidance is essential to develop therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders. Axonal guidance defects can lead to serious problems in nervous system development and contribute to various neurological diseases. The designation of the WAVE complex as a critical component in axonal guidance mediated by the Shh molecule opens new avenues of research and potential treatments.