DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0706192104. One at a time, live tracking of NGF axonal transport using quantum dots

One at a time, live tracking of NGF axonal transport using quantum dots

10.1073/pnas.0706192104

Crossref journal-article

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (341)

Abstract

Retrograde axonal transport of nerve growth factor (NGF) signals is critical for the survival, differentiation, and maintenance of peripheral sympathetic and sensory neurons and basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. However, the mechanisms by which the NGF signal is propagated from the axon terminal to the cell body are yet to be fully elucidated. To gain insight into the mechanisms, we used quantum dot-labeled NGF (QD-NGF) to track the movement of NGF in real time in compartmentalized culture of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Our studies showed that active transport of NGF within the axons was characterized by rapid, unidirectional movements interrupted by frequent pauses. Almost all movements were retrograde, but short-distance anterograde movements were occasionally observed. Surprisingly, quantitative analysis at the single molecule level demonstrated that the majority of NGF-containing endosomes contained only a single NGF dimer. Electron microscopic analysis of axonal vesicles carrying QD-NGF confirmed this finding. The majority of QD-NGF was found to localize in vesicles 50–150 nm in diameter with a single lumen and no visible intralumenal membranous components. Our findings point to the possibility that a single NGF dimer is sufficient to sustain signaling during retrograde axonal transport to the cell body.

Bibliography

Cui, B., Wu, C., Chen, L., Ramirez, A., Bearer, E. L., Li, W.-P., Mobley, W. C., & Chu, S. (2007). One at a time, live tracking of NGF axonal transport using quantum dots. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(34), 13666â13671.

Authors 8

Bianxiao Cui (first)
Chengbiao Wu (additional)
Liang Chen (additional)
Alfredo Ramirez (additional)
Elaine L. Bearer (additional)
Wei-Ping Li (additional)
William C. Mobley (additional)
Steven Chu (additional)

References 43 Referenced 314

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Dates

Type	When
Created	18 years ago (Aug. 14, 2007, 11:13 p.m.)
Deposited	3 years, 4 months ago (April 12, 2022, 4:28 p.m.)
Indexed	4 weeks ago (Aug. 2, 2025, 12:35 a.m.)
Issued	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)
Published	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)
Published Online	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)
Published Print	18 years ago (Aug. 21, 2007)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Cui_2007, title={One at a time, live tracking of NGF axonal transport using quantum dots}, volume={104}, ISSN={1091-6490}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0706192104}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.0706192104}, number={34}, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, publisher={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Cui, Bianxiao and Wu, Chengbiao and Chen, Liang and Ramirez, Alfredo and Bearer, Elaine L. and Li, Wei-Ping and Mobley, William C. and Chu, Steven}, year={2007}, month=aug, pages={13666–13671} }

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