Binding of soluble myelin-associated glycoprotein to specific gangliosides induces the association of p75NTR to lipid rafts and signal transduction

Abstract

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a potent inhibitor of neurite outgrowth from a variety of neurons. Here we show that gangliosides, GT1b and GD1a, as well as the Nogo receptor, are functional binding partners for soluble MAG-Fc. Postnatal cerebellar neurons from mice deficient in the GalNAcT gene are insensitive to MAG with regard to neurite outgrowth and lack in the activation of RhoA. MAG-Fc or the antibody to GT1b and GD1a elicits recruitment of p75 NTR to lipid rafts, specialized microdomain for signal transduction. Disruption of lipid rafts results in abolishment of inhibitory effects of MAG-Fc and the Nogo peptide. These findings establish gangliosides as functional binding partners for soluble MAG. Gangliosides may play a role in translocation of p75NTR to lipid rafts for initiation of the signal transduction. © 2005 International Society for Neurochemistry.