N-WASp is required for Schwann cell cytoskeletal dynamics, normal myelin gene expression and peripheral nerve myelination

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.058677
• Publication Date: 2011-03-08T15:10:26Z
• Authors: Fuzi Jin; Baoxia Dong; John Georgiou; Qiuhong Jiang; Jinyi Zhang; Arjun Bharioke; Frank Qiu; Silvia Lommel; M. Laura Feltri; Lawrence Wrabetz; John C. Roder; Joel Eyer; Xiequn Chen; Alan C. Peterson; Katherine A. Simi...
• Keywords: Schwann cell; Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein

Schwann cells elaborate myelin sheaths around axons by spirally wrapping and compacting their plasma membranes. Although actin remodeling plays a crucial role in this process, the effectors that modulate cell cytoskeleton are poorly defined. Here, we show cytoskeletal regulator, neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASp), is upregulated myelinating coincident with elaboration. When N-WASp conditionally deleted at onset of myelination, continue to ensheath but fail extend processes circumferentially myelin. Myelin-related gene expression also severely reduced N-WASp-deficient vitro process lamellipodia formation disrupted. affected mice demonstrate obvious motor deficits these do not appear progress, mutant animals achieving normal body weights living advanced age. Our observations an essential maturation formation.