PUBLICATION
Analyzing the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in axon guidance in vivo in zebrafish
- Authors
- Poulain, F.E.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-141019-7
- Date
- 2015
- Source
- Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 1229: 469-82 (Chapter)
- Registered Authors
- Poulain, Fabienne
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Axons/metabolism*
- Caenorhabditis elegans/metabolism
- Coloring Agents/chemistry
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans/metabolism*
- Staining and Labeling
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 25325973 Full text @ Meth. Mol. Biol.
Citation
Poulain, F.E. (2015) Analyzing the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in axon guidance in vivo in zebrafish. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.). 1229:469-82.
Abstract
One of the most fascinating questions in the field of neurobiology is to understand how neuronal connections are properly formed. During development, neurons extend axons that are guided along defined paths by attractive and repulsive cues to reach their brain target. Most of these guidance factors are regulated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), a family of cell-surface and extracellular core proteins with attached heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans. The unique diversity and structural complexity of HS sugar chains, as well as the variety of core proteins, have been proposed to generate a complex "sugar code" essential for brain wiring. While the functions of HSPGs have been well characterized in C. elegans or Drosophila, relatively little is known about their roles in nervous system development in vertebrates. In this chapter, we describe the advantages and the different methods available to study the roles of HSPGs in axon guidance directly in vivo in zebrafish. We provide protocols for visualizing axons in vivo, including precise dye labeling and time-lapse imaging, and for disturbing the functions of HS-modifying enzymes and core proteins, including morpholino, DNA, or RNA injections.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping