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Published online 28 December 2004. doi:10.1083/jcb.200405073
The Rockefeller University Press, 0021-9525 $8.00
JCB, Volume 168, Number 1, 127-139
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Article

 RPTP{alpha} is essential for NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation and neurite elongation

Vsevolod Bodrikov1, Iryna Leshchyns'ka1, Vladimir Sytnyk1, John Overvoorde2, Jeroen den Hertog2, and Melitta Schachner1

1 Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universität Hamburg, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
2 Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands

Correspondence to Melitta Schachner: melitta.schachner{at}zmnh.uni-hamburg.de

Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) forms a complex with p59fyn kinase and activates it via a mechanism that has remained unknown. We show that the NCAM140 isoform directly interacts with the intracellular domain of the receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase RPTP{alpha}, a known activator of p59fyn. Whereas this direct interaction is Ca2+ independent, formation of the complex is enhanced by Ca2+-dependent spectrin cytoskeleton–mediated cross-linking of NCAM and RPTP{alpha} in response to NCAM activation and is accompanied by redistribution of the complex to lipid rafts. Association between NCAM and p59fyn is lost in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains and is disrupted by dominant-negative RPTP{alpha} mutants, demonstrating that RPTP{alpha} is a link between NCAM and p59fyn. NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation is abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons, and disruption of the NCAM–p59fyn complex in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons or with dominant-negative RPTP{alpha} mutants blocks NCAM-dependent neurite outgrowth, implicating RPTP{alpha} as a major phosphatase involved in NCAM-mediated signaling.

V. Bodrikov, I. Leshchyns'ka, and V. Sytnyk contributed equally to this paper.

Abbreviations used in this paper: FGFR, FGF receptor; NCAM, neural cell adhesion molecule.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is involved in several morphogenetic events, such as neuronal migration and differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and axon fasciculation. NCAM-induced morphogenetic effects depend on activation of Src family tyrosine kinases and, in particular, p59fyn kinase (Schmid et al., 1999). NCAM-dependent neurite outgrowth is impaired in neurons from p59fyn-deficient mice (Beggs et al., 1994) and is abolished by inhibitors of Src kinase family members (Crossin and Krushel, 2000; Kolkova et al., 2000; Cavallaro et al., 2001). The NCAM140 isoform has been observed in a complex with p59fyn, whereas p59fyn does not associate significantly with NCAM180 or glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked NCAM120 (Beggs et al., 1997). However in oligodendrocytes, p59fyn is also associated with NCAM120 in isolated lipid rafts (Kramer et al., 1999), whereas in tumor cells NCAM is also associated with pp60c-src (Cavallaro et al., 2001), suggesting that additional molecular mechanisms may define NCAM's specificity of interactions with Src kinase family members. Several lines of evidence suggest that NCAM's association with lipid rafts is critical for p59fyn activation. NCAM not only colocalizes with p59fyn in lipid rafts (He and Meiri, 2002) but disruption of NCAM140 association with lipid rafts either by mutation of NCAM140 palmitoylation sites or by lipid raft destruction attenuates activation of the p59fyn kinase pathway, completely blocking neurite outgrowth (Niethammer et al., 2002). However, in spite of compelling evidence that NCAM can activate Src family tyrosine kinases, the mechanism of this activation has remained unclear.

The activity of Src family tyrosine kinases is regulated by phosphorylation (Brown and Cooper, 1996; Thomas and Brugge, 1997; Bhandari et al., 1998; Hubbard, 1999; Petrone and Sap, 2000). The two best-characterized tyrosine phosphorylation sites in Src family tyrosine kinases perform opposing regulatory functions. The site within the enzyme's activation loop (Tyr-420 in p59fyn) undergoes autophosphorylation, which is crucial for achieving full kinase activity. In contrast, phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal site (Tyr-531 in p59fyn) inhibits kinase activity through intramolecular interaction between phosphorylated Tyr-531 and the SH2 domain in p59fyn, which stabilizes a noncatalytic conformation.

A well known activator of Src family tyrosine kinases is the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase RPTP{alpha} (Zheng et al., 1992, 2000; den Hertog et al., 1993; Su et al., 1996; Ponniah et al., 1999). It contains two cytoplasmic catalytic domains, D1 and D2, of which only D1 is significantly active in vitro and in vivo (Wang and Pallen, 1991; den Hertog et al., 1993; Wu et al., 1997; Harder et al., 1998). To activate Src family tyrosine kinase, constitutively phosphorylated pTyr789 at the COOH-terminal of RPTP{alpha} binds the SH2 domain of Src family tyrosine kinase that disrupts the intra-molecular association between the SH2 and SH1 domains of the kinase. This initial binding is followed by binding between the inhibitory COOH-terminal phosphorylation site of the Src family tyrosine kinase (pTyr531 in p59fyn) and the D1 domain of RPTP{alpha} resulting in dephosphorylation of the inhibitory COOH-terminal phosphorylation sites in Src family tyrosine kinases (Zheng et al., 2000). These sites are hyperphosphorylated in cells lacking RPTP{alpha}, and kinase activity of pp60c-src and p59fyn in RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice is reduced (Ponniah et al., 1999). Like p59fyn and NCAM, RPTP{alpha} is particularly abundant in the brain (Kaplan et al., 1990; Krueger et al., 1990), accumulates in growth cones (Helmke et al., 1998), and is involved in neural cell migration and neurite outgrowth (Su et al., 1996; Yang et al., 2002; Petrone et al., 2003).

Remarkably, a close homologue of RPTP{alpha}, CD45, associates with the membrane-cytoskeleton linker protein spectrin (Lokeshwar and Bourguignon, 1992; Iida et al., 1994), a binding partner of NCAM (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). Following this lead, we investigated the possibility that RPTP{alpha} is involved in NCAM-induced p59fyn activation. We show that the intracellular domains of NCAM140 and RPTP{alpha} interact directly and that this interaction is enhanced by spectrin-mediated Ca2+-dependent cross-linking of NCAM and RPTP{alpha}. Levels of p59fyn associated with NCAM correlate with the ability of NCAM-associated RPTP{alpha} to bind to p59fyn, and the NCAM–p59fyn complex is disrupted in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains implicating RPTP{alpha} as linker molecule between NCAM and p59fyn. RPTP{alpha} redistributes to lipid rafts in response to NCAM activation and RPTP{alpha} levels are reduced in lipid rafts from NCAM-deficient mice, suggesting that NCAM recruits RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts to activate p59fyn. Finally, NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation is abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons and NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth is blocked in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons or neurons transfected with dominant-negative RPTP{alpha} mutants, demonstrating that RPTP{alpha} is a major phosphatase involved in NCAM-mediated signaling.


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
Discussion
 Materials and methods
 References
 
Activation of p59fyn is impaired in NCAM-deficient brains
Cross-linking of NCAM at the cell surface results in a rapid activation of p59fyn kinase (Beggs et al., 1997; Niethammer et al., 2002) via an unknown mechanism. To analyze whether or not NCAM deficiency may affect the activation status of p59fyn, we compared levels of activated p59fyn characterized by dephosphorylation at Tyr-531 and phosphorylation at Tyr-420 in the brains of wild-type and NCAM-deficient mice. Whereas the level of p59fyn protein was higher in brain homogenates of NCAM-deficient mice (Fig. 1 A), labeling with antibodies recognizing only p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 or with antibodies recognizing only p59fyn phosphorylated at Tyr-420 was reduced in brain homogenates of NCAM-deficient mice (Fig. 1 B), indicating that activation of p59fyn is inhibited in NCAM-deficient brains and suggesting that NCAM is involved in the regulation of p59fyn function.



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  		Figure 1. Activated p59fyn is reduced in NCAM-deficient brain. (A) Brain homogenates from 0- to 4-d-old wild-type (NCAM+/+) and NCAM-deficient (NCAM–/–) mice were probed by Western blot with antibodies against total p59fyn protein. Labeling for GAPDH was included as loading control. Levels of p59fyn protein are increased in NCAM-deficient brains. (B) p59fyn immunoprecipitates from 0- to 4-d-old wild-type (NCAM+/+) and NCAM-deficient (NCAM–/–) mice were probed by Western blot with antibodies against total p59fyn protein, p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531, or p59fyn phosphorylated at Tyr-420. Activated p59fyn is reduced in NCAM-deficient brains. Histograms (A and B) show quantitation of the blots with OD for wild type set to 100%. Mean values ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. *, P < 0.05, paired t test.

 
NCAM forms a complex with RPTP{alpha}
The intracellular domain of NCAM does not contain sequences known to induce p59fyn activation. Thus, NCAM may form a complex with a protein, possibly a protein tyrosine phosphatase, to activate p59fyn. One possible candidate is the RPTP{alpha} that dephosphorylates Tyr-531 of p59fyn (Bhandari et al., 1998) and is highly enriched in neurons and growth cones (Helmke et al.,1998). Remarkably, in RPTP{alpha}-deficient cells, both dephosphorylation of the COOH-terminal tyrosine residue and autophosphorylation of the tyrosine residue within the activation loop of pp60c-src is reduced (von Wichert et al., 2003), resembling the phenotype of NCAM-deficient mice. Furthermore, a close homologue of RPTP{alpha}, CD45, associates with the membrane-cytoskeleton linker protein spectrin (Lokeshwar and Bourguignon, 1992; Iida et al., 1994), a binding partner of NCAM (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). To investigate if NCAM interacts with RPTP{alpha}, we analyzed the distribution of both proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons. NCAM and RPTP{alpha} partially colocalized along neurites, and both proteins accumulated in growth cones where clusters of NCAM partially overlapped with accumulations of RPTP{alpha} (Fig. 2 A). To verify whether or not NCAM interacts with RPTP{alpha}, we induced clustering of NCAM at the cell surface of live hippocampal neurons by incubation with antibodies against NCAM. Clustering of NCAM enhanced overlap between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} localization (mean correlation between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} localization being 0.3 ± 0.05 and 0.6 ± 0.03 in neurons treated with nonspecific IgG or NCAM antibodies, respectively; Fig. 2 B), indicating that RPTP{alpha} partially redistributed to NCAM clusters and suggesting that NCAM and RPTP{alpha} form a complex. Because antibodies against RPTP{alpha} were directed against its intracellular domain, RPTP{alpha} contained in intracellular organelles could have been recognized as colocalizing with NCAM that associates with intracellular organelles of trans-Golgi network origin (Sytnyk et al., 2002). Thus, the redistribution of RPTP{alpha} to NCAM clusters may represent redistribution of intracellular carriers containing RPTP{alpha}. To analyze whether or not NCAM associates with RPTP{alpha} in the plasma membrane, we transfected neurons with RPTP{alpha} containing the HA tag in the extracellular domain and induced clustering of NCAM and HA-RPTP{alpha} with antibodies against NCAM and the HA tag. HA-RPTP{alpha} partially redistributed to NCAM clusters (Fig. 2 C), indicating that both proteins form a complex at the cell surface.



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  		Figure 2. NCAM forms a complex with RPTP{alpha}. (A) High magnification image of a growth cone of a hippocampal neuron labeled with antibodies against NCAM and RPTP{alpha}. Note that clusters of NCAM overlap with accumulations of RPTP{alpha}. (B) Live hippocampal neurons were treated with nonspecific IgG or with antibodies against NCAM. Note that antibodies against NCAM induced clustering of NCAM at the cell surface. Labeling with antibodies against RPTP{alpha} showed that RPTP{alpha} partially redistributed to NCAM clusters (arrows). The corresponding profiles show NCAM and RPTP{alpha} labeling intensities along neurites. Note increased overlap of NCAM and RPTP{alpha} clusters in neurons treated with NCAM antibodies. (C) Hippocampal neurons transfected with wild-type RPTP{alpha} containing an HA tag extracellularly were incubated live with antibodies against the HA tag and NCAM. Cell surface RPTP{alpha} partially redistributed to NCAM clusters (arrows). Bars, 10 µm. (D) Brain homogenates of wild-type (NCAM+/+) and NCAM-deficient (NCAM–/–) mice (total brain) and NCAM immunoprecipitates (IP: NCAM) were probed with antibodies against RPTP{alpha} by Western blot. Labeling for GAPDH was included as loading control. RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitates with NCAM. Note increased expression of RPTP{alpha} in NCAM-deficient brains. Histogram shows quantitation of the RPTP{alpha} level in wild type (+/+) and NCAM-deficient (–/–) brains. OD for wild type was set to 100%. Mean values ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. *, P < 0.05, paired t test.

 
Finally, we examined the association between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} in the brain by coimmunoprecipitation. RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM from brain homogenates (Fig. 2 D), confirming that NCAM associates with RPTP{alpha}. Interestingly, we found that the level of RPTP{alpha} was approximately two times higher in the brain of NCAM-deficient mice when compared with wild-type mice (Fig. 2 D), indicating a functional relationship between NCAM and RPTP{alpha}.

NCAM140 is the most potent RPTP{alpha}-binding NCAM isoform
To identify the NCAM isoform interacting with RPTP{alpha}, we expressed NCAM120, NCAM140, and NCAM180 in CHO cells and analyzed their association with RPTP{alpha} by coimmunoprecipitation. CHO cells endogenously express RPTP{alpha} that was detected with RPTP{alpha} antibodies as a band with a molecular mass identical to RPTP{alpha} detected in brain homogenates (unpublished data). Although transfected CHO cells expressed NCAM120, NCAM140, and NCAM180 in similar amounts, RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitated only with NCAM140 (Fig. 3 A). However, after prolonged exposure of the film we could also detect RPTP{alpha} in NCAM180 immunoprecipitates (unpublished data). RPTP{alpha} did not coimmunoprecipitate with NCAM120. We conclude that RPTP{alpha} associates predominantly with NCAM140 and to a lesser extent with NCAM180.



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  		Figure 3. Intracellular domain of NCAM140 directly interacts with the intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha}. (A) Lysates and NCAM immunoprecipitates (IP: NCAM) from CHO cells transfected with NCAM120, NCAM140, NCAM180, or GFP were probed by Western blot with antibodies against NCAM and RPTP{alpha}. Note that NCAM isoforms were expressed in approximately equal amounts whereas RPTP{alpha} immunoprecipitated only with NCAM140 but not NCAM180 or NCAM120. Labeling for GAPDH was included as loading control. (B) Intracellular domains of NCAM140, NCAM180, or CHL1 were bound to Ni-NTA agarose beads. The gel was stained with Coomassie blue and shows that approximately equal amounts of the intracellular domains of NCAM140, NCAM180, or CHL1 were bound to beads. Beads were incubated with equal concentrations of intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} and the extent of RPTP{alpha} intracellular domain binding was determined by Western blotting using polyclonal antibodies against RPTP{alpha}. Intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} interacted with intracellular domains of NCAM140, and to a lesser extent NCAM180, but not with intracellular domains of CHL1. (C) Intracellular domains of NCAM140, NCAM180, or CHL1 were bound to plastic and assayed by ELISA for the ability to bind increasing concentrations of RPTP{alpha} intracellular domains. Binding to BSA served as a control. Mean values (OD 405) ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. Intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} bound to intracellular domains of NCAM140 and with a lower affinity to intracellular domains of NCAM180, but not to intracellular domains of CHL1.

 
Inability of NCAM120, the GPI-linked NCAM isoform without the intracellular domain, to bind RPTP{alpha} suggested that the intracellular domain of NCAM is involved in the formation of a complex between NCAM and RPTP{alpha}. Furthermore, the extracellular domain of NCAM (NCAM-Fc) did not bind to RPTP{alpha} in brain lysates, confirming that the extracellular domain of NCAM does not bind to RPTP{alpha} (unpublished data). To verify that the NCAM intracellular domain interacts directly with the intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha}, we analyzed binding of the recombinant intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} to the intracellular domain of NCAM180 or NCAM140 in a pull-down assay. For comparison, the intracellular domain of CHL1, another adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily, was used. The intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} bound to the intracellular domain of NCAM180 or NCAM140 but not to the intracellular domain of CHL1 (Fig. 3 B). Interaction between the intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} and NCAM140 was severalfold stronger than between the intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} and NCAM180 (Fig. 3 B). To confirm this finding, we examined the direct interaction between the intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} and NCAM180 or NCAM140 by ELISA. Intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} bound to the intracellular domains of NCAM180 or NCAM140 in a concentration-dependent manner, with the intracellular domain of NCAM140 binding with a higher affinity than the intracellular domain of NCAM180 (Fig. 3 C). No binding with the intracellular domain of CHL1 was observed (Fig. 3 C). We conclude that NCAM binds directly to RPTP{alpha} via the intracellular domain, with NCAM140 being the most potent RPTP{alpha}-binding NCAM isoform.

RPTP{alpha} binds NCAM140 via the D2 domain and links NCAM140 to p59fyn
To identify the part of the intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} responsible for the interaction with NCAM140, we coexpressed, in CHO cells, NCAM140 together with the wild-type form of RPTP{alpha} (wtRPTP{alpha}), RPTP{alpha} lacking the D2 domain (RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2), or catalytically inactive form of RPTP{alpha} containing a mutation within the D1 catalytic domain (RPTP{alpha}C433S) and analyzed binding of NCAM140 to these RPTP{alpha} mutants by coimmunoprecipitation. All transfected RPTP{alpha} constructs contained the HA tag to distinguish them from endogenous RPTP{alpha}. As seen for endogenous RPTP{alpha}, transfected wtRPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140 (Fig. 4 A). Similar amounts of RPTP{alpha}C433S coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140, whereas RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 did not coimmunoprecipitate (Fig. 4 A), indicating that the D2 domain is required for the interaction between RPTP{alpha} and NCAM140.



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  		Figure 4. RPTP{alpha} interacts with NCAM140 via D2 domain and links NCAM140 to p59fyn. (A) Lysates from CHO cells cotransfected with NCAM140 and wild-type (wt) RPTP{alpha}, RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2, RPTP{alpha}C433S, or GFP were probed with antibodies against HA tag and NCAM by Western blot. NCAM140 and RPTP{alpha} constructs are expressed at approximately equal amounts in transfected CHO cells. Labeling for GAPDH was included as loading control. NCAM (IP: NCAM) or RPTP{alpha} (IP: HA) immunoprecipitates were probed with antibodies against HA tag and p59fyn. wtRPTP{alpha} and RPTP{alpha}C433S but not RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140. RPTP{alpha}C433S and RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 inhibited coimmunoprecipitation of p59fyn with NCAM140. p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with wtRPTP{alpha} and RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 but to a lower extent with RPTP{alpha}C433S. (B) Hippocampal neurons transfected with RPTP{alpha}C433S, RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2, or GFP were incubated live with NCAM antibodies to cluster NCAM and fixed and labeled with antibodies against p59fyn. Note that redistribution of p59fyn to NCAM clusters (arrows) was reduced in neurons transfected with RPTP{alpha}C433S or RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2. Bar, 10 µm. The corresponding profiles show NCAM and p59fyn labeling intensities along transfected neurites. The histogram shows mean labeling intensity of p59fyn in NCAM clusters. Transfection with RPTP{alpha}C433S or RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 reduced association between p59fyn and NCAM. Mean values ± SEM (n > 20 neurons) are shown in arbitrary units (AU). *, P < 0.05, t test.

 
Remarkably, among the major NCAM isoforms, only NCAM140 forms a complex with p59fyn (Beggs et al., 1997) that we found to correlate with its ability to bind RPTP{alpha} (see the previous section). RPTP{alpha} directly interacts with p59fyn (Bhandari et al., 1998). Accordingly, p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with wtRPTP{alpha} from transfected CHO cells (Fig. 4 A). Approximately the same amount of p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 (Fig. 4 A), indicating that this truncated construct also binds p59fyn probably via the D1 domain. In accordance with previous reports, p59fyn showed reduced ability to bind RPTP{alpha}C433S, a catalytically inactive mutant of RPTP{alpha} (Fig. 4 A; Zheng et al., 2000).

To analyze the role of RPTP{alpha} in NCAM140–p59fyn complex formation, we coimmunoprecipitated p59fyn with NCAM140 in the presence of RPTP{alpha} mutants. In CHO cells cotransfected with NCAM140 and wtRPTP{alpha}, p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140 (Fig. 4 A). The amount of p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140 was reduced in cells cotransfected with RPTP{alpha}C433S (Fig. 4 A), correlating with the reduced ability of this catalytically inactive RPTP{alpha} mutant to bind p59fyn (see previous paragraph; Zheng et al., 2000). When NCAM140 was cotransfected with RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2, p59fyn no longer coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM140 (Fig. 4 A). Because RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 binds p59fyn (Fig. 4 A), it is conceivable that this mutant, which does not bind NCAM140, competes with endogenous RPTP{alpha} for binding to p59fyn and thus inhibits NCAM140–p59fyn complex formation.

To extend this analysis to neurons, we transfected hippocampal neurons with GFP alone or cotransfected with GFP and RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 or RPTP{alpha}C433S and analyzed the redistribution of p59fyn to NCAM clusters after cross-linking NCAM with NCAM antibodies (Fig. 4 B). In neurons transfected with RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 or RPTP{alpha}C433S, the level of p59fyn in NCAM clusters was reduced by ~30% when compared with GFP only transfected cells, suggesting that RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 or RPTP{alpha}C433S inhibit NCAM–p59fyn complex formation by competing with endogenous RPTP{alpha}. The combined observations indicate that NCAM140–p59fyn complex formation correlates with the ability of NCAM140-associated RPTP{alpha} to bind to p59fyn, implicating RPTP{alpha} as a linker between NCAM140 and p59fyn.

Association between NCAM and p59fyn and NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation are abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons
To substantiate further our finding that RPTP{alpha} is a linker protein between NCAM and p59fyn, we analyzed p59fyn activation and association of p59fyn with NCAM in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains. As for NCAM-deficient brains, levels of p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 and levels of p59fyn phosphorylated at Tyr-420 were reduced in brain homogenates of RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice (Fig. 5 A), further suggesting that RPTP{alpha} plays a role in NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation in the brain. To analyze the role of RPTP{alpha} in the formation of the complex between NCAM and p59fyn, we immunoprecipitated NCAM from wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains and probed immunoprecipitates with antibodies against p59fyn. Whereas p59fyn coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM from wild-type brains, p59fyn did not coimmunoprecipitate with NCAM from RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains (Fig. 5 B). Furthermore, when NCAM was clustered at the surface of wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient cultured hippocampal neurons, levels of p59fyn were significantly reduced in NCAM clusters in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons when compared with wild-type cells (Fig. 5 C), indicating that RPTP{alpha} is required for complex formation between NCAM and p59fyn.



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  		Figure 5. NCAM–p59fyn complex formation and NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation are abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons. (A) p59fyn immunoprecipitates from 4-d-old wild-type (RPTP{alpha}+/+) and RPTP{alpha}-deficient (RPTP{alpha}–/–) brain homogenates were probed by Western blot with antibodies against total p59fyn protein, p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531, or p59fyn phosphorylated at Tyr-420. Levels of p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 and p59fyn phosphorylated at Tyr-420 are reduced in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains. Histograms show quantitation of the blots with OD for wild type set to 100%. Mean values ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. *, P < 0.05, paired t test. (B) NCAM immunoprecipitates (IP: NCAM) from wild-type (RPTP{alpha}+/+) and RPTP{alpha}-deficient (RPTP{alpha}–/–) brain homogenates were probed with antibodies against NCAM and p59fyn by Western blot. Note that p59fyn coimmunoprecipitates with NCAM in wild-type but not in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains. (C) Wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient hippocampal neurons were incubated live with NCAM antibodies to cluster NCAM. Cells were fixed and labeled with antibodies against p59fyn. Note that redistribution of p59fyn to NCAM clusters was reduced in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons. Bar, 10 µm. The corresponding profiles show NCAM and p59fyn labeling intensities along neurites. The histogram shows mean labeling intensity of p59fyn in NCAM clusters. Mean values ± SEM (n > 20 neurons) are shown in arbitrary units (AU). *, P < 0.05, t test. (D) Wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient hippocampal neurons were incubated live with nonspecific IgG or NCAM antibodies, and fixed and labeled with antibodies against p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531. Immunofluorescence signals were inverted to accentuate the difference in immunolabeling intensities between groups. Bar, 10 µm. Note that application of NCAM antibodies increased levels of p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 in wild type, but not in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons. The histogram shows mean labeling intensity of p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 along neurites. Mean values ± SEM (n > 20 neurons) are shown in arbitrary units (AU). *, P < 0.05, t test.

 
NCAM clustering at the cell surface induces rapid p59fyn activation (Beggs et al., 1997). To analyze whether or not RPTP{alpha} is required for NCAM-induced p59fyn activation, we treated live hippocampal neurons from wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice with NCAM antibodies and analyzed levels of p59fyn dephosphorylated at Tyr-531 along neurites of the stimulated neurons. Clustering of NCAM increased levels of Tyr-531–dephosphorylated p59fyn along neurites of wild-type neurons by ~60% (Fig. 5 D). However, NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation was completely abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons (Fig. 5 D), demonstrating that RPTP{alpha} is required for NCAM-mediated p59fyn activation.

Formation of the complex between RPTP{alpha} and NCAM is enhanced by Ca2+
Coimmunoprecipitation experiments were performed either in the presence of Ca2+ or with 2 mM EDTA, a Ca2+-sequestering agent. Whereas RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitated with NCAM from brain homogenates under both conditions, coimmunoprecipitated complexes were reduced by ~60% in the presence of EDTA (Fig. 6 A), suggesting that Ca2+ promotes formation of the NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex. These results are in accordance with findings of Zeng et al. (1999), who found that NCAM and RPTP{alpha} did not coimmunoprecipitate in the presence of EDTA. To analyze if the direct interaction between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} is Ca2+ dependent, we assayed binding of the intracellular domain of NCAM140 to the intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} by ELISA in the presence or absence of Ca2+ (Fig. 6 B), showing that the direct interaction is Ca2+ independent and suggesting that additional binding partners of NCAM and/or RPTP{alpha} may enhance complex formation in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Spectrin, which directly interacts with the intracellular domain of NCAM (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003) and contains a Ca2+ binding domain (De Matteis and Morrow, 2000), is one of the possible candidates. Indeed, RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitated with spectrin from brain homogenates (Fig. 6 C). In the presence of 2 mM EDTA, RPTP{alpha} coimmunoprecipitating with spectrin was reduced by ~80% (Fig. 6 C), whereas coimmunoprecipitation of NCAM with spectrin did not depend on Ca2+ (Fig. 6 C). We conclude that RPTP{alpha} directly interacts with NCAM in a Ca2+-independent manner. However, formation of the complex is enhanced by Ca2+-dependent cross-linking of NCAM140 and RPTP{alpha} via spectrin.



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  		Figure 6. NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex formation is enhanced by spectrin in a Ca2+-dependent manner. (A) NCAM immunoprecipitates obtained from brain homogenates of wild-type mice (+/+) in the presence or absence of 2 mM EDTA were probed by Western blot with antibodies against RPTP{alpha}. NCAM-deficient brains (–/–) were taken for control. Coimmunoprecipitation of RPTP{alpha} was inhibited by EDTA application. The histogram shows quantitation of the blots. (B) Intracellular domains of NCAM140 were bound to plastic and assayed by ELISA for the ability to bind increasing concentrations of RPTP{alpha} intracellular domains in the absence of Ca2+ or in the presence of 2 mM Ca2+. Binding to BSA served as a control. Mean values (OD 405) ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. Binding of intracellular domains of RPTP{alpha} to intracellular domains of NCAM140 did not depend on Ca2+. (C) Spectrin immunoprecipitates obtained from brain homogenates of wild-type mice in the absence or presence of 2 mM EDTA were probed by Western blot with antibodies against RPTP{alpha} or NCAM. Non-immune rabbit Ig (control Ig) were used for control. Coimmunoprecipitation of RPTP{alpha} with spectrin was inhibited by EDTA, whereas coimmunoprecipitation of NCAM did not depend on Ca2+. Histograms show quantitation of the blots. For histograms in A and C, OD in the presence of Ca2+ was set to 100% and mean values ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. *, P < 0.05, paired t test.

 
The NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex redistributes to lipid rafts after NCAM activation
Whereas p59fyn is mainly associated with lipid rafts (van't Hof and Resh, 1997; Niethammer et al., 2002; Filipp et al., 2003), only 4–8% of all RPTP{alpha} molecules were found in lipid rafts of brain (unpublished data). In hippocampal neurons extracted with cold 1% Triton X-100 to isolate lipid rafts (Niethammer et al., 2002; Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003), detergent-insoluble clusters of RPTP{alpha} only partially overlapped with the lipid raft marker ganglioside GM1 (Fig. 7 A), further confirming that RPTP{alpha} and p59fyn are segregated at the subcellular level. Because activation of NCAM results in its redistribution to lipid rafts (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003), it may also promote redistribution of NCAM-associated RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts and thus activate raft-associated p59fyn. To verify this hypothesis, we studied association of NCAM and RPTP{alpha} with lipid rafts in hippocampal neurons activated or not activated with NCAM-Fc or NCAM antibodies. In accordance with previous results (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003), application of NCAM-Fc or NCAM antibodies increased GM1 levels in detergent-insoluble clusters of NCAM, indicating that NCAM redistributed to lipid rafts (Fig. 7, A–C). Application of NCAM-Fc or NCAM antibodies also increased the level of RPTP{alpha} in NCAM clusters, indicating that NCAM activation promoted NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex formation (Fig. 7, A–C). Furthermore, NCAM activation also increased GM1 levels in detergent-insoluble clusters of RPTP{alpha} (Fig. 7 D), confirming that NCAM-associated RPTP{alpha} also redistributed to lipid rafts and suggesting that NCAM recruits RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts. To further analyze this possibility, we compared levels of RPTP{alpha} in lipid rafts in brains of wild-type and NCAM-deficient mice. Indeed, RPTP{alpha} was reduced by ~60% in lipid rafts isolated from NCAM-deficient brains (Fig. 7 E), confirming that NCAM plays a role in RPTP{alpha} targeting to lipid rafts. The levels of p59fyn were increased in NCAM-deficient lipid rafts (100% and 124 ± 7.6% in wild-type and NCAM deficient rafts, respectively) probably reflecting increased levels of p59fyn in NCAM-deficient brains. Levels of GM1 were not different in lipid rafts from wild-type and NCAM-deficient brains (100% and 103.3 ± 6.8% in wild-type and NCAM-deficient rafts, respectively), showing that lipid rafts were isolated with the same efficacy from wild-type and NCAM-deficient brains (Fig. 7 E).



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  		Figure 7. NCAM activation induces redistribution of RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts. (A–D and F) Control hippocampal neurons and neurons incubated with corresponding reagents were extracted in cold 1% Triton X-100 and labeled with antibodies against NCAM and RPTP{alpha} together with FITC-labeled cholera toxin to visualize GM1-containing lipid rafts. (A) Note increased overlap of NCAM with RPTP{alpha} and GM1 after NCAM-Fc application when compared with control neurons (arrows). Bar, 10 µm. (B and C) Histograms show mean intensities of RPTP{alpha} and GM1 in NCAM clusters in control and NCAM-Fc (B) or NCAM antibody (C)–treated neurons. (D) Histograms show mean intensities of NCAM and GM1 in RPTP{alpha} clusters in control and NCAM antibody–treated neurons. (E) Lipid rafts obtained from wild-type (+/+) or NCAM-deficient brains (–/–) were probed by Western blot (WB) with antibodies against RPTP{alpha} or p59fyn or by dot blot (DB) with cholera toxin. Note reduced amount of RPTP{alpha} in rafts from NCAM-deficient brains. The histogram shows quantitation of the RPTP{alpha} levels in lipid rafts. OD in wild type was set to 100% and mean values ± SEM (n = 6) are shown. *, P < 0.05, paired t test. (F) Hippocampal neurons were incubated with nonspecific IgG or NCAM antibody alone, or in the presence of BAPTA-AM or FGFR inhibitor. Graphs show mean labeling intensity of RPTP{alpha} and GM1 in NCAM clusters. Note that treatment with BAPTA-AM and FGFR inhibitor abolished redistribution of RPTP{alpha} to NCAM clusters but not redistribution of NCAM to GM1-positive rafts. Histograms (B–D and F) show mean values ± SEM (n > 50) in arbitrary units (AU). *, P < 0.05, t test.

 
NCAM-mediated recruitment of RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts is enhanced by NCAM-induced FGF receptor (FGFR)–dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+
NCAM activation increases intracellular Ca2+ concentrations via a FGFR-dependent mechanism (Walsh and Doherty, 1997; Kamiguchi and Lemmon, 2000; Juliano, 2002). This increase in intracellular Ca2+ may account for the enhanced association between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} after NCAM activation (Fig. 7, A–D) because of spectrin-mediated cross-linking of NCAM140 and RPTP{alpha} (Fig. 6). Interestingly, NCAM activation also induces redistribution of NCAM-associated spectrin to lipid rafts (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). To analyze the role of FGFR and Ca2+ in the recruitment of RPTP{alpha} to an NCAM complex, we estimated levels of RPTP{alpha} associated with NCAM following NCAM activation in control neurons and neurons incubated with BAPTA-AM, a membrane-permeable Ca2+ chelator (Williams et al., 1992; Cavallaro et al., 2001), or a specific FGFR inhibitor (Niethammer et al., 2002; Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). Whereas NCAM activation increased levels of RPTP{alpha} and GM1 in NCAM clusters (Fig. 7 F), treatment with BAPTA-AM or FGFR inhibitor abolished recruitment of RPTP{alpha} to NCAM clusters in response to NCAM activation (Fig. 7 F). In accordance with previous findings (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003), NCAM redistribution to lipid rafts was not affected by the FGFR inhibitor or BAPTA-AM (Fig. 7 F). BAPTA-AM or FGFR inhibitor did not affect the level of RPTP{alpha} associated with NCAM under nonactivated conditions (Fig. 7 F). We conclude that, whereas at resting conditions Ca2+ does not play a major role in the interaction between NCAM and RPTP{alpha}, NCAM-induced FGFR-dependent elevations of intracellular Ca2+ levels strengthen the interactions between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} in response to NCAM activation, most likely via spectrin (see the section Formation of the complex between RPTP{alpha} and NCAM is enhanced by Ca2+).

NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth depends on NCAM association with RPTP{alpha}
NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth depends on p59fyn activation (Kolkova et al., 2000), suggesting that NCAM association with RPTP{alpha} may be involved. To analyze the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth, we incubated cultured hippocampal neurons with 100 µM vanadate, an inhibitor of these phosphatases (Helmke et al., 1998). NCAM-Fc–enhanced neurite outgrowth was abolished by vanadate, indicating that activation of protein tyrosine phosphatases is required for NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth. Vanadate did not affect neurite outgrowth in nonstimulated neurons, indicating that vanadate does not lead to nonspecific impairments (Fig. 8 A). To directly assess the role of RPTP{alpha} in NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth, we transfected hippocampal neurons with the dominant-negative mutants of RPTP{alpha}. Both, RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2, which does not bind NCAM but associates with p59fyn, and catalytically inactive RPTP{alpha}C433S, which associates with NCAM but binds p59fyn with a lower efficiency than endogenous RPTP{alpha}, inhibited association of NCAM with p59fyn by competing with endogenous RPTP{alpha} (Fig. 4). In neurons transfected with GFP only, stimulation with NCAM-Fc significantly enhanced neurite length when compared with control nonstimulated neurons (Fig. 8 B). However, neurons transfected with RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 or RPTP{alpha}C433S remained unresponsive to NCAM-Fc stimulation (Fig. 8 B), indicating that RPTP{alpha} plays a major role in NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth. To confirm this finding, we analyzed NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons from RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice. Whereas NCAM-Fc enhanced neurite outgrowth in neurons from RPTP{alpha} wild-type littermates by ~100%, NCAM-Fc–induced neurite outgrowth was completely abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons (Fig. 8 C), further confirming that RPTP{alpha} is required for NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth.



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  		Figure 8. NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth depends on RPTP{alpha} activation. (A) Hippocampal neurons were incubated with NCAM-Fc alone or with NCAM-Fc together with vanadate, and lengths of the longest neurites were measured. NCAM-Fc increased neurite length when compared with control neurons. Vanadate decreased neurite outgrowth in the NCAM-Fc–stimulated group to the control group level but did not affect basal neurite outgrowth over poly-L-lysine. (B) Hippocampal neurons transfected with GFP alone or cotransfected with GFP and RPTP{alpha}C433S or RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 were incubated with NCAM-Fc after transfection and lengths of the longest neurites were measured. NCAM-Fc increased neurite lengths in GFP-transfected neurons. NCAM-Fc–stimulated neurite outgrowth was blocked in the group cotransfected with RPTP{alpha}C433S or RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2. (C) Lengths of the longest neurites were measured in wild-type (+/+) and RPTP{alpha}-deficient (–/–) neurons not treated or treated with NCAM-Fc. NCAM-Fc increased neurite length in wild-type but not in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons. For A–C, mean values ± SEM are shown (n > 150 neurons; *, P < 0.05, t test). Experiments were performed two times with the same effect.

 

   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
Materials and methods
 References
 
It is by now well established that in response to homophilic or heterophilic binding cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily, such as NCAM, L1, or CHL1, activate Src family tyrosine kinases, and in particular pp60c-src or p59fyn, resulting in morphogenetic events, such as cell migration and neurite outgrowth. However, the mechanisms of Src family tyrosine kinase activation in these paradigms have remained unresolved. Here, we identify a cognate activator of p59fyn, the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase RPTP{alpha}, as a novel binding partner of NCAM. Activation of p59fyn is reduced in NCAM-deficient mice and interaction between NCAM and p59fyn is abolished in RPTP{alpha}-deficient brains. Interestingly, we found that the levels of p59fyn and RPTP{alpha} are increased in NCAM-deficient brains, possibly reflecting a compensatory reaction to the decreased activity of these enzymes in the mutant and further indicating a tight functional relationship between NCAM, RPTP{alpha}, and p59fyn. NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth is completely abrogated in RPTP{alpha}-deficient neurons or in neurons transfected with dominant-negative RPTP{alpha} mutants, indicating that RPTP{alpha} links NCAM to p59fyn both physically and functionally.

Role of Ca2+ in NCAM–RPTP{alpha}–p59fyn complex formation
Interactions between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} and NCAM–RPTP{alpha}–p59fyn complex formation leading to neurite outgrowth are tightly regulated (Fig. 9). First, whereas direct interaction between NCAM and RPTP{alpha} is Ca2+ independent, NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex formation is enhanced by Ca2+-dependent cross-linking via spectrin. Remarkably, NCAM activation results in an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration via influx through Ca2+ channels or release from intracellular stores, and may thus provide a positive feedback loop between NCAM activation and NCAM–RPTP{alpha} complex formation involving spectrin. RPTP{alpha} binding to spectrin may also elevate RPTP{alpha} enzymatic dephosphorylation activity (Lokeshwar and Bourguignon, 1992). Interestingly, NCAM activation also induces activation of PKC (Kolkova et al., 2000; Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003), which is known to phosphorylate RPTP{alpha} and stimulate its activity (den Hertog et al., 1995; Tracy et al., 1995; Zheng et al., 2002). Thus, a network of activated intracellular signaling molecules may underlie the induction and maintenance of NCAM-mediated neurite outgrowth. It is interesting in this respect that the NCAM140 isoform predominates in these interactions: it interacts more efficiently with p59fyn via RPTP{alpha} and enhances neurite outgrowth more vigorously than NCAM180 (Niethammer et al., 2002). The structural dispositions of NCAM140 for this preference will remain to be established.



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  		Figure 9. A proposed model of NCAM140-mediated p59fyn activation cascade. Before NCAM activation, NCAM140 and RPTP{alpha} located predominantly in raft-free areas are segregated from p59fyn, which predominantly associates with lipid rafts. NCAM activation induces FGFR-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ that enhances RPTP{alpha}–NCAM140 complex formation via spectrin as a cross-linking platform. Additionally, NCAM activation results in the redistribution of the complex to lipid rafts due to NCAM palmitoylation. In lipid rafts, RPTP{alpha} binds and dephosphorylates p59fyn resulting in p59fyn activation, which, in turn, promotes neurite outgrowth.

 
The role of lipid rafts
Additional regulation of RPTP{alpha}-mediated p59fyn activation is achieved by segregation of RPTP{alpha} and p59fyn to different subdomains in the plasma membrane (Fig. 9). Approximately 90% of all RPTP{alpha} molecules in the brain are located in a lipid raft-free environment and are thereby segregated from lipid raft-associated p59fyn under nonstimulated conditions. Whereas segregation of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases from their potential substrates due to targeting to different plasma membrane domains has been suggested as a general mechanism of the regulation of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase function (Petrone and Sap, 2000), the mechanisms that target receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases to lipid rafts have remained unclear. We show that levels of raft-associated RPTP{alpha} in the NCAM-deficient brain are reduced, and NCAM redistribution to lipid rafts in response to NCAM activation also induces redistribution of RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts via its NCAM association. The combined observations indicate that NCAM plays a role in recruiting NCAM-associated RPTP{alpha} to lipid rafts via NCAM palmitoylation (Niethammer et al., 2002; Fig. 9) or via NCAM interaction with GPI-anchored components of lipid rafts, such as the GPI-linked GDNF receptor (Paratcha et al., 2003). Investigations on the regulatory mechanisms underlying palmitoylation will be required to understand the subcellular compartment-specific distribution of the NCAM–RPTP{alpha}–p59fyn complex. Furthermore, the localization of adhesion molecules and receptors will have to be elucidated in view of lipid rafts heterogeneities.

Potential role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in signaling mediated by other cell adhesion molecules
Besides NCAM, activation of L1 and CHL1, other cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily, also results in the activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (Schmid et al., 2000; Buhusi et al., 2003). As for NCAM, the intracellular domains of L1 and CHL1 do not possess structural motif for protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, suggesting that yet unidentified protein tyrosine phosphatases may be involved. Identification of protein tyrosine phosphatases associated with other cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily and conjunctions with RPTP{alpha}-activated integrins (Zeng et al., 2003) will be an important next step in the elucidation of the mechanisms that cell adhesion molecules use differentially to guide cell migration and neurite outgrowth in the developing nervous system.


   Materials and methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Results
 Discussion
 Materials and methods
References
 
Antibodies and toxins
Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against NCAM (Niethammer et al., 2002) were used in immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemical experiments; and rat mAbs H28 against mouse NCAM (Gennarini et al., 1984) were used in immunocytochemical experiments. Both antibodies recognize the extracellular domain of all NCAM isoforms. Hybridoma clone H28 was a gift of C. Goridis (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8542, Paris, France). Rabbit antibodies against RPTP{alpha} were a gift of C.J. Pallen (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) or were generated as described previously (den Hertog et al., 1994). Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against human erythrocyte spectrin, rabbit polyclonal antibodies against the HA tag, nonspecific rabbit immunoglobulins, and cholera toxin B subunit tagged with fluorescein to label GM1 were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Mouse mAbs against the HA tag (clone 12CA5) were obtained from Roche Diagnostics. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies and mouse mAbs against p59fyn protein were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against Tyr-527–dephosphorylated or Tyr-416–phosphorylated pp60c-src kinase that cross-react with Tyr-531–dephosphorylated or Tyr-420–phosphorylated p59fyn were obtained from Cell Signaling Technology. Secondary antibodies against rabbit, rat, and mouse Ig coupled to HRP, Cy2, Cy3, or Cy5 were obtained from Dianova.

Animals
To compare wild-type and NCAM-deficient mice, C57BL/6J mice and NCAM-deficient mice (Cremer et al., 1994) inbred for at least nine generations onto the C57BL/6J background were used. NCAM-deficient mice were a gift of H. Cremer (Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, Marseille, France).To compare wild-type and RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice, RPTP{alpha}-positive and -negative littermates obtained from heterozygous breeding were used (see online supplemental material).

Image acquisition and manipulation
Coverslips were embedded in Aqua-Poly/Mount (Polysciences, Inc.). Images were acquired at RT using a confocal laser scanning microscope (model LSM510; Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Inc.), LSM510 software (version 3; Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Inc.), and oil Plan-Neofluar 40x objective (NA 1.3; Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Inc.) at 3x digital zoom. Contrast and brightness of the images were further adjusted in Photo-Paint 9 (Corel Corporation).

Detergent extraction of cultured neurons
Cells washed in PBS were incubated for 1 min in cold microtubule-stabilizing buffer (2 mM MgCl2, 10 mM EGTA, and 60 mM Pipes, pH 7.0) and extracted 8 min on ice with 1% Triton X-100 in microtubule-stabilizing buffer as described previously (Ledesma et al., 1998). After washing with PBS, cells were fixed with cold 4% formaldehyde in PBS.

Colocalization analysis
Colocalization quantification was performed as described previously (Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). In brief, an NCAM cluster was defined as an accumulation of NCAM labeling with a mean intensity at least 30% higher than background. NCAM clusters were automatically outlined using the threshold function of the Scion Image software (Scion Corporation). Within the outlined areas the mean intensities of NCAM, RPTP{alpha}, p59fyn, or GM1 labeling associated with NCAM cluster were measured. The same threshold was used for all groups. All experiments were performed two to three times with the same effect. Colocalization profiles were plotted using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health).

DNA constructs
Rat NCAM140 and NCAM180/pcDNA3 were a gift of P. Maness (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC). Rat NCAM120 (a gift of E. Bock, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark) was subcloned into the pcDNA3 vector (Invitrogen) by two EcoRI sites. The EGFP plasmid was purchased from CLONTECH Laboratories, Inc. cDNAs encoding intracellular domains of NCAM140 and NCAM180 were as described previously (Sytnyk et al., 2002; Leshchyns'ka et al., 2003). The plasmid encoding the intracellular domain of RPTP{alpha} was a gift of C.J. Pallen. Wild-type RPTP{alpha}, RPTP{alpha}C433S, and RPTP{alpha}{Delta}D2 (containing RPTP{alpha} residues 1–516 [last 6 residues: KIYNKI]) were as described previously (den Hertog and Hunter, 1996; Blanchetot and den Hertog, 2000; Buist et al., 2000).

Online supplemental material
Details on cultures and transfection of hippocampal neurons and CHO cells, immunofluorescence labeling, ELISA and pull-down assay, coimmunoprecipitation, isolation of lipid enriched microdomains, gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and generation of RPTP{alpha}-deficient mice are given in online supplemental material. Online supplemental material is available at http://www.jcb.org/cgi/content/full/jcb.200405073/DC1.


   Acknowledgments
 
We thank Achim Dahlmann and Eva Kronberg for genotyping and animal care, Drs. Patricia Maness and Elisabeth Bock for NCAM cDNAs, Dr. Catherine J. Pallen for antibodies against RPTP{alpha} and cDNA encoding the RPTP{alpha} intracellular domain, Dr. Harold Cremer for NCAM-deficient mice, and Dr. Christo Goridis for hybridoma clone H28.

This work was supported by Zonta Club, Hamburg-Alster (I. Leshchyns'ka), and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (I. Leshchyns'ka, V. Sytnyk, and M. Schachner).

Submitted: 12 May 2004

Accepted: 11 November 2004


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 Discussion
 Materials and methods
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