Collapsin: A protein in brain that induces the collapse and paralysis of neuronal growth cones

TLDR

Repulsive guidance cues can steer neuronal growth cones during development and prevent mature axons from regenerating. The study seeks to identify a repulsive cue capable of guiding neuronal growth cones. The authors propose that collapsin functions as a ligand that guides specific growth cones by inhibiting their motility. The 100‑kDa glycoprotein collapsin, found in chick brain, induces collapse and paralysis of neuronal growth cones at ~10 pM, contains an Ig‑like domain and a basic region in its C‑terminus, shares homology with fasciclin IV in its N‑terminus, and selectively collapses sensory ganglion but not retinal ganglion cell growth cones in vitro.

Abstract

Repulsive guidance cues can steer neuronal growth cones during development and prevent mature axons from regenerating. We have identified a 100 kd glycoprotein in the chick brain that is a good candidate for a repulsive cue. Since it induces the collapse and paralysis of neuronal growth cones in vitro, we have named it collapsin. It is effective at concentrations of approximately 10 pM. The C-terminal half of collapsin contains a single immunoglobulin-like domain and an additional highly basic region. The N-terminal half of collapsin shares significant homology with fasciclin IV, a growth cone guidance protein in grasshopper. Recombinant collapsin causes sensory ganglion growth cones to collapse but not retinal ganglion cell growth cones. We propose that collapsin could serve as a ligand that guides specific growth cones by a motility-inhibiting mechanism.