How Schwann Cells Sort Axons

α6β1 and α7β1 integrins are required in Schwann cells to sort axons.

During development, Schwann cells extend lamellipodia-like processes to segregate large- and small-caliber axons during the process of radial sorting. Radial sorting is a prerequisite for myelination and is arrested in human neuropathies because of laminin deficiency. Experiments in mice using targeted mutagenesis have confirmed that laminins 211, 411, and receptors containing the β1 integrin s...

Tight junctions in Schwann cells of peripheral myelinated axons

Tight junction (TJ)-like structures have been reported in Schwann cells, but their molecular composition and physiological function remain elusive. We found that claudin-19, a novel member of the claudin family (TJ adhesion molecules in epithelia), constituted these structures. Claudin-19-deficient mice were generated, and they exhibited behavioral abnormalities that could be attributed to peri...

Globular neuropathy. A disorder of axons and Schwann cells.

Expression of recombinant myelin-associated glycoprotein in primary Schwann cells promotes the initial investment of axons by myelinating Schwann cells

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is an integral membrane protein expressed by myelinating glial cells that occurs in two developmentally regulated forms with different carboxyterminal cytoplasmic domains (L-MAG and S-MAG). To investigate the role of MAG in myelination a recombinant retrovirus was used to introduce a MAG cDNA (L-MAG form) into primary Schwann cells in vitro. Stably infected ...

Sort Me If You Can: How to Sort Dynamic Data

We formulate and study a new computational model for dynamic data. In this model the data changes gradually and the goal of an algorithm is to compute the solution to some problem on the data at each time step, under the constraint that it only has a limited access to the data each time. As the data is constantly changing and the algorithm might be unaware of these changes, it cannot be expecte...