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Glycosaminoglycans pp 469–482Cite as

Analyzing the Role of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance In Vivo in Zebrafish

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1229))

Abstract

One of the most fascinating questions in the field of neurobiology is to understand how neuronal connections are properly formed. During development, neurons extend axons that are guided along defined paths by attractive and repulsive cues to reach their brain target. Most of these guidance factors are regulated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), a family of cell-surface and extracellular core proteins with attached heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans. The unique diversity and structural complexity of HS sugar chains, as well as the variety of core proteins, have been proposed to generate a complex “sugar code” essential for brain wiring. While the functions of HSPGs have been well characterized in C. elegans or Drosophila, relatively little is known about their roles in nervous system development in vertebrates. In this chapter, we describe the advantages and the different methods available to study the roles of HSPGs in axon guidance directly in vivo in zebrafish. We provide protocols for visualizing axons in vivo, including precise dye labeling and time-lapse imaging, and for disturbing the functions of HS-modifying enzymes and core proteins, including morpholino, DNA, or RNA injections.

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Acknowledgments

F.E. Poulain is supported by a grant from the NINDS (K99-1K99NS083714-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Coker Life Science Building, 715 Sumter street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Fabienne E. Poulain

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  1. Fabienne E. Poulain
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Correspondence to Fabienne E. Poulain .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

    Kuberan Balagurunathan

  2. Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Hiroshi Nakato

  3. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Umesh R. Desai

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Poulain, F.E. (2015). Analyzing the Role of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance In Vivo in Zebrafish. In: Balagurunathan, K., Nakato, H., Desai, U. (eds) Glycosaminoglycans. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1229. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1714-3_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1714-3_36

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1713-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1714-3

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