A dual leucine kinase-dependent axon self-destruction program promotes Wallerian degeneration

Nat Neurosci. 2009 Apr;12(4):387-9. doi: 10.1038/nn.2290. Epub 2009 Mar 15.

Abstract

Axon degeneration underlies many common neurological disorders, but the signaling pathways that orchestrate axon degeneration are unknown. We found that dual leucine kinase (DLK) [corrected to add (DLK) abbreviation] promoted degeneration of severed axons in Drosophila and mice, and that its target, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, promoted degeneration locally in axons as they committed to degenerate. This pathway also promoted degeneration after chemotherapy exposure and may be a component of a general axon self-destruction program.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Anthracenes / pharmacology
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Axons / pathology*
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Axotomy / methods
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Ganglia, Spinal / cytology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / pathology
  • Sciatic Nerve / injuries
  • Sciatic Nerve / pathology
  • Wallerian Degeneration / genetics
  • Wallerian Degeneration / pathology*

Substances

  • Anthracenes
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • pyrazolanthrone
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 12