A regulated switch of chick neurofascin isoforms modulates ligand recognition and neurite extension.

Neural cell adhesion molecule neurofascin regulates the induction of neurite outgrowth, the establishment of synaptic connectivity and myelination. Neurofascin isoforms are generated by spatially and temporally controlled alternative splicing. Isoform NF166 is predominantly expressed in dorsal root ganglia from embryonal day 5 (E5) to E8, and a further neurofascin isoform NF185 appears at E9.

Homophilic interactions of chick neurofascin in trans are important for neurite induction.

Neurofascin is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily involved in axon extension and fasciculation. Here we apply adenoviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression in primary neurons, PC12-NIH/3T3 co-cultures in combination with Luminex assays, to demonstrate homophilic interactions of neurofascin for neurite outgrowth. An adenoviral vector was constructed for the expression of shRNA in primary tectal cells that inhibits gene expression similar to short interfering RNA.