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Interactions between axons and Schwann cells are essential for the acquisition of Schwann cell radial and longitudinal polarity and myelin sheath assembly. In the internode, the largest of these longitudinal domains, axon-Schwann cell interactions are mediated by the Nectin-like (Necl) cell adhesion proteins, also known as SynCAMs or Cadms. In particular, Necl-1/Cadm3 expressed on the axon surface binds to Necl-4/Cadm4 expressed along the adaxonal membrane of myelinating Schwann cells. Necl-4 promotes myelination in vitro and is required for the timely onset of myelination and the fidelity of the organization of the myelin sheath and the internode in vivo. A key question is the identity of the downstream effectors of Necl-4 that mediate its effects. The cytoplasmic terminal region (CTR) of Necl-4 contains a PDZ-domain binding motif. Accordingly, we used the CTR of Necl-4 in an unbiased proteomic screen of PDZ-domain proteins. We identify Par-3, a multi-PDZ domain containing protein of the Par-aPKC polarity complex previously implicated in myelination, as an interacting protein. Necl-4 and Par-3 are colocalized along the inner Schwann cell membrane and coprecipitate from Schwann cell lysates. The CTR of Necl-4 binds to the first PDZ domain of Par-3 thereby recruiting Par-3 to sites of Necl-4/Necl-1 interaction. Knockdown of Necl-4 perturbs Par-3 localization to the inner membrane of Schwann cells in myelinating co-cultures. These findings implicate interactions of Necl-1/Necl-4 in the recruitment of Par-3 to the Schwann cell adaxonal membrane and the establishment of Schwann cell radial polarity., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Axo-glial interactions are critical for myelination and the domain organization of myelinated fibers. Cell adhesion molecules belonging to the Cadm family, and in particular Cadm3 (axonal) and its heterophilic binding partner Cadm4 (Schwann cell), mediate these interactions along the internode. Using targeted shRNA-mediated knockdown, we show that the removal of axonal Cadm3 promotes Schwann cell myelination in the in vitro DRG neuron/Schwann cell myelinating system. Conversely, over-expressing Cadm3 on the surface of DRG neuron axons results in an almost complete inability by Schwann cells to form myelin segments. Axons of superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, which do not normally support the formation of myelin segments by Schwann cells, express higher levels of Cadm3 compared to DRG neurons. Knocking down Cadm3 in SCG neurons promotes myelination. Finally, the extracellular domain of Cadm3 interferes in a dose-dependent manner with the activation of ErbB3 and of the pro-myelinating PI3K/Akt pathway, but does not interfere with the activation of the Mek/Erk1/2 pathway. While not in direct contradiction, these in vitro results shed lights on the apparent lack of phenotype that was reported from in vivo studies of Cadm3 -/- mice. Our results suggest that Cadm3 may act as a negative regulator of PNS myelination, potentially through the selective regulation of the signaling cascades activated in Schwann cells by axonal contact, and in particular by type III Nrg-1. Further analyses of peripheral nerves in the Cadm -/- mice will be needed to determine the exact role of axonal Cadm3 in PNS myelination. GLIA 2016;64:2247-2262., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The Ig cell adhesion molecules (CAM) neurofascin (NF) and Nr-CAM are localized at developing nodes of Ranvier in peripheral myelinated axons prior to clustering of Na+ channels. Different isoforms of NF are expressed on neurons and glia, and NF binding on both cells has been suggested to play roles in node and paranode formation. To clarify the role of NF further, we analyzed effects of NF-Fc fusion proteins in Schwann cell-DRG neuron myelinating cocultures. NF-Fc significantly inhibited nodal clustering of Na+ channels, ankyrin G, and betaIV spectrin, and modestly reduced Caspr clustering at paranodal junctions; it did not significantly affect lengths or numbers of myelin-positive segments, axon initial segments, or accumulations of phosphorylated-ERM proteins in Schwann cell nodal microvilli. NF-Fc binds to Schwann cells but little or no binding to DRG neurons was detected. The results suggest a critical early role for axonal NF in clustering of Na+ channels at nodes of Ranvier via interactions with receptors on Schwann cells.

Abstract: The Ig cell adhesion molecules (CAM) neurofascin (NF) and Nr-CAM are localized at developing nodes of Ranvier in peripheral myelinated axons prior to clustering of Na+ channels. Different isoforms of NF are expressed on neurons and glia, and NF binding on both cells has been suggested to play roles in node and paranode formation. To clarify the role of NF further, we analyzed effects of NF-Fc fusion proteins in Schwann cell–DRG neuron myelinating cocultures. NF-Fc significantly inhibited nodal clustering of Na+ channels, ankyrinG, and βIV spectrin, and modestly reduced Caspr clustering at paranodal junctions; it did not significantly affect lengths or numbers of myelin-positive segments, axon initial segments, or accumulations of phosphorylated-ERM proteins in Schwann cell nodal microvilli. NF-Fc binds to Schwann cells but little or no binding to DRG neurons was detected. The results suggest a critical early role for axonal NF in clustering of Na+ channels at nodes of Ranvier via interactions with receptors on Schwann cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nectin-like 4 (NECL4, CADM4) is a Schwann cell-specific cell adhesion molecule that promotes axo-glial interactions. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that NECL4 is necessary for proper peripheral nerve myelination. However, the molecular mechanisms that are regulated by NECL4 and affect peripheral myelination currently remain unclear. We used an in vitro approach to begin identifying some of the mechanisms that could explain NECL4 function. Using mass spectrometry and Western blotting techniques, we have identified choline transporter-like 1 (CTL1) as a putative complexing partner with NECL4. We show that intracellular choline levels are significantly elevated in NECL4-deficient Schwann cells. The analysis of extracellular d9-choline uptake revealed a deficit in the amount of d9-choline found inside NECL4-deficient Schwann cells, suggestive of either reduced transport capabilities or increased metabolization of transported choline. An extensive lipidomic screen of choline derivatives showed that total phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol (but not diacylglycerol or sphingomyelin) are significantly elevated in NECL4-deficient Schwann cells, particularly specific subspecies of phosphatidylcholine carrying very long polyunsaturated fatty acid chains. Finally, CTL1-deficient Schwann cells are significantly impaired in their ability to myelinate neurites in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a bona fide cell adhesion molecule, NECL4, regulating choline homeostasis and lipid biogenesis. Phosphatidylcholines are major myelin phospholipids, and several phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol species are known to regulate key aspects of peripheral myelination. Furthermore, the biophysical properties imparted to plasma membranes are regulated by fatty acid chain profiles. Therefore, it will be important to translate these in vitro observations to in vivo studies of NECL4 and CTL1-deficient mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]