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During development, the axons of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurons must decide whether to cross or avoid the midline at the optic chiasm to project to targets on both sides of the brain. By combining genetic analyses with in vitro assays, we show that neuropilin 1 (NRP1) promotes contralateral RGC projection in mammals. Unexpectedly, the NRP1 ligand involved is not an axon guidance cue of the class 3 semaphorin family, but VEGF164, the neuropilin-binding isoform of the classical vascular growth factor VEGF-A. VEGF164 is expressed at the chiasm midline and is required for normal contralateral growth in vivo. In outgrowth and growth cone turning assays, VEGF164 acts directly on NRP1-expressing contralateral RGCs to provide growth-promoting and chemoattractive signals. These findings have identified a permissive midline signal for axons at the chiasm midline and provide in vivo evidence that VEGF-A is an essential axon guidance cue.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuron.2011.02.052

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuron

Publication Date

09/06/2011

Volume

70

Pages

951 - 965

Keywords

Age Factors, Amino Acids, Animals, Axons, Embryo, Mammalian, Functional Laterality, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Growth Cones, Indoles, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Neuropilin-1, Neuropilin-2, Optic Chiasm, Organ Culture Techniques, Retina, Retinal Ganglion Cells, Semaphorin-3A, Signal Transduction, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors