Nogo receptor 3, a paralog of Nogo-66 receptor 1 （NgR1）, may function as a NgR1 co-receptor for Nogo-66

Nogo-A is a major myelin associated inhibitor that blocks regeneration of injured axons in the central nervous system (CNS).Nogo-66 (a 66-residue domain of Nogo-A) expressed on the surface of oligodendrocytes has been shown to directly interact with Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NgR1).A number of additional components of NgR1 receptor complex essential for its signaling have been uncovered.However,detailed composition of the complex and its signaling mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated.In this study,we show that Nogo receptor 3 (NgR3),a paralog of NgR1,is a binding protein for NgR1.The interaction is highly specific because other members of the reticulin family,to which Nogo-A belongs,do not bind to NgR3.Neither does NgR3 show any binding activity with Nogo receptor 2 (NgR2),another NgR1 paralog.Majority of NgR3 domains are required for its binding to NgR1.Moreover,a truncated NgR3 with the membrane anchoring domain deleted can function as a decoy receptor to reverse neurite outgrowth inhibition caused by Nogo-66 in culture.These in vitro results,together with previously reported overlapping expression profile between NgR1 and NgR3,suggest that NgR3 may be associated with NgR1 in vivo and that their binding interface may be targeted for treating neuronal injuries.     

Nogo受体相关研究进展

中枢神经系统损伤后其再生能力较弱已被人们所熟知,原因在于髓磷脂抑制物如Nogo、MAG、Omgp等抑制因子的作用,这些抑制因子通过与神经元上的Nogo受体(NgR)特异性结合,发挥对神经轴突再生的抑制作用。Nogo是一种存在于中枢神经系统少突胶质细胞上的髓磷脂蛋白,其作用主要在于神经细胞损伤后抑制其突触再生,这同时也是对损伤部位其他细胞免于进一步损伤的保护作用。存在于细胞表面的Nogo-66结构是与NgR特异性结合的功能域。NgR是一种存在于神经元表面,传递抑制轴突生长信号的复合共受体。近年来随着对NgR、Nogo及其下游信号通路其他相关蛋白研究的深入,提示多种神经系统疾病与之相关。我们简要综述近年来关于NgR的研究进展。     

Crystal structure of the Nogo-receptor-2

The inhibition of axon regeneration upon mechanical injury is dependent on interactions between Nogo receptors (NgRs) and their myelin-derived ligands. NgRs are composed of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region, thought to be structurally similar among the different isoforms of the receptor, and a divergent "stalk" region. It has been shown by others that the LRR and stalk regions of NgR1 and NgR2 have distinct roles in conferring binding affinity to the myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) in vivo. Here, we show that purified recombinant full length NgR1 and NgR2 maintain significantly higher binding affinity for purified MAG as compared to the isolated LRR region of either NgR1 or NgR2. We also present the crystal structure of the LRR and part of the stalk regions of NgR2 and compare it to the previously reported NgR1 structure with respect to the distinct signaling properties of the two receptor isoforms.     

Molecular regulation of Nogo-A in neural cells: Novel insights into structure and function

Nogo-A is part of the reticulon family of proteins localized to the myelin and oligodendroglial plasma membranes. Nogo-A specifically initiates signal transduction cascades limiting axonal regrowth following injury and disease in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Recent novel data support the contention that neuronal Nogo-A plays an important role in regulating cytoskeletal re-organization without the requirement of signaling through its cognate receptor (Nogo receptor). These data, along with the recent findings that the N-terminus of Nogo-A can interact with integrins and that NgR1 interacts with the amyloid precursor protein extracellularly, as well as novel findings showing ubiquitin ligases binding with Nogo-A intracellularly add a layer of complexity to its functional role in the CNS.     

Structure and axon outgrowth inhibitor binding of the Nogo-66 receptor and related proteins

The myelin-derived proteins Nogo, MAG and OMgp limit axonal regeneration after injury of the spinal cord and brain. These cell-surface proteins signal through multi-subunit neuronal receptors that contain a common ligand-binding glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored subunit termed the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). By deletion analysis, we show that the binding of soluble fragments of Nogo, MAG and NgR to cell-surface NgR requires the entire leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region of NgR, but not other portions of the protein. Despite sharing extensive sequence similarity with NgR, two related proteins, NgR2 and NgR3, which we have identified, do not bind Nogo, MAG, OMgp or NgR. To investigate NgR specificity and multi-ligand binding, we determined the crystal structure of the biologically active ligand-binding soluble ectodomain of NgR. The molecule is banana shaped with elongation and curvature arising from eight LRRs flanked by an N-terminal cap and a small C-terminal subdomain. The NgR structure analysis, as well as a comparison of NgR surface residues not conserved in NgR2 and NgR3, identifies potential protein interaction sites important in the assembly of a functional signaling complex.     

神经轴突生长抑制因子Nogo 家族的研究进展*

Nogo家族是一类神经轴突生长抑制因子家族,目前成员包括Nogo-A,Nogo-B,Nogo-C三个亚型。Nogo家族成员因C末端具有保守的RHD结构域而归属于RTNs家族,表明它们的分布和功能与内质网密切相关。Nogo家族C末端还具有一个进化保守的66氨基酸的功能段称为Nogo-66,体外表达的Nogo-66片段具有抑制神经突生长的作用。Nogo家族成员结构上的区别主要表现在不同剪切长短的N末端序列。Nogo-A主要在中枢和外周神经系统中广泛分布,Nogo-C主要分布在骨骼肌,而Nogo-B则几乎遍布于各种组织与细胞之中。目前,发现可介导Nogo胞内信号转导通路的受体主要是膜外糖蛋白偶联的NgR和跨膜受体p75NTR组成的共受体,但NgR与Nogo-A在胚胎发育中时空表达并不同步提示可能还有其它受体存在。虽然Nogo家族作为神经轴突生长抑制因子被发现,但越来越多的研究表明其可能在胚胎发育、细胞凋亡或神经退行性变等重大事件中扮演重要角色。本文拟就Nogo家族迄今为止突出的研究进展作一综述,旨在为下一步的功能研究工作提供理论参考和依据。     

A neutralizing anti-Nogo66 receptor monoclonal antibody reverses inhibition of neurite outgrowth by central nervous system myelin

The Nogo66 receptor (NgR1) is a neuronal, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein that binds three central nervous system (CNS) myelin proteins, Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein, and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and mediates their inhibitory effects on neurite growth. Although the LRR domains on NgR1 are necessary for binding to the myelin proteins, the exact epitope(s) involved in ligand binding is unclear. Here we report the generation and detailed characterization of an anti-NgR1 monoclonal antibody, 7E11. The 7E11 monoclonal antibody blocks Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein, and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein binding to NgR1 with IC50 values of 120, 14, and 4.5 nm, respectively, and effectively promotes neurite outgrowth of P3 rat dorsal root ganglia neurons cultured on a CNS myelin substrate. Further, we have defined the molecular epitope of 7E11 to be DNAQLR located in the third LRR domain of rat NgR1. Our data demonstrate that anti-NgR1 antibodies recognizing this epitope, such as 7E11, can neutralize CNS myelin-dependent inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Thus, specific anti-NgR1 antibodies may represent a useful therapeutic approach for promoting CNS repair after injury.     

Segregation of Nogo66 receptors into lipid rafts in rat brain and inhibition of Nogo66 signaling by cholesterol depletion

NogoA, a myelin-associated component, inhibits neurite outgrowth. Nogo66, a portion of NogoA, binds to Nogo66 receptor (NgR) and induces the inhibitory signaling. LINGO-1 and p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75), the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor, are also required for NogoA signaling. However, signaling mechanisms downstream to Nogo receptor remain poorly understood. Here, we observed that NgR and p75 were colocalized in low-density membrane raft fractions derived from forebrains and cerebella as well as from cerebellar granule cells. NgR interacted with p75 in lipid rafts. In addition, disruption of lipid rafts by beta-methylcyclodextrin, a cholesterol-binding reagent, reduced the Nogo66 signaling. Our results suggest an important role of lipid rafts in facilitating the interaction between NgRs and provide insight into mechanisms underlying the inhibition of neurite outgrowth by NogoA.     

Epitope mapping of the neuronal growth inhibitor Nogo-A for the Nogo receptor and the cognate monoclonal antibody IN-1 by means of the SPOT technique

Nogo-A is a potent inhibitor of axonal outgrowth in the central nervous system of adult mammals, where it is expressed as a membrane protein on oligodendrocytes and in myelin. Here we describe an attempt to identify linear peptide epitopes in its sequence that are responsible for the interaction either with the Nogo receptor (NgR) or with the neutralizing monoclonal antibody IN-1. Analysis of an array of immobilized overlapping 15 mer peptides covering the entire amino acid sequence of human Nogo-A (1192 residues) revealed a single epitope with prominent binding activity both towards the recombinant NgR and the IN-1 F(ab) fragment. Further truncation and substitution analysis yielded the minimal epitope sequence 'IKxLRRL' (x not equal to P), which occurs within the so-called Nogo66 region (residues 1054-1120) of Nogo-A. The bacterially produced Nogo66 fragment exhibited binding activity both for the recombinant NgR and for the IN-1 F(ab) fragment on the Western blot as well as in ELISA. Unexpectedly, the synthetic epitope peptide and the recombinant Nogo66 showed cross-reactivity with the 8-18C5 F(ab) fragment, which is directed against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) as a structurally unrelated target. On the other hand, the recombinant N-terminal domain of Nogo-A (residues 334-966) was shown to specifically interact on the Western blot and in an ELISA with the IN-1 F(ab) fragment but not with the recombinant NgR, which is in agreement with previous results. Hence, our data suggest that there is a distinct binding site for the Nogo receptor in the Nogo66 region of Nogo-A, whereas its interaction with NgR is less specific than anticipated before. Although there probably exists a non-linear epitope for the neutralizing antibody IN-1 in the N-terminal region of Nogo-A, which is likely to be accessible from outside the cell, a previously postulated second binding site for NgR in this region (called Nogo-A-24) remains elusive.     

Myelin-associated glycoprotein interacts with the Nogo66 receptor to inhibit neurite outgrowth

Myelin inhibitors of axonal regeneration, like Nogo and MAG, block regrowth after injury to the adult CNS. While a GPI-linked receptor for Nogo (NgR) has been identified, MAG's receptor is unknown. We show that MAG inhibits regeneration by interaction with NgR. Binding of and inhibition by MAG are lost if neuronal GPI-linked proteins are cleaved. Binding of MAG to NgR-expressing cells is GPI dependent and sialic acid independent. Conversely, NgR binds to MAG-expressing cells. MAG, but not a truncated MAG that binds neurons but does not inhibit regeneration, precipitates NgR from NgR-expressing cells, DRG, and cerebellar neurons. Importantly, NgR antibody, soluble NgR, or dominant-negative NgR each prevent inhibition of neurite outgrowth by MAG. Also, MAG and Nogo66 compete for binding to NgR. These results suggest redundancy in myelin inhibitors and indicate therapies for CNS injuries.     

A novel Rieske-type protein derived from an apoptosis-inducing factor-like (AIFL) transcript with a retained intron 4 induces change in mitochondrial morphology and growth arrest

Upon spinal cord injury, the myelin inhibitors, including the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), Nogo-A and the oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMgp), bind to and signal via a single neuronal receptor/co-receptor complex comprising of Nogo receptor 1(NgR1)/LINGO-1 and p75 or TROY, impeding regeneration of injured axons. We employed a cell-free system to study the binding of NgR1 to its co-receptors and the myelin inhibitor Nogo-A, and show that gangliosides mediate the interaction of NgR1 with LINGO-1. Solid phase binding assays demonstrate that the sialic acid moieties of gangliosides and the stalk of NgR1 are the principal determinants of these molecular interactions. Moreover, the tripartite complex comprising of NgR1, LINGO-1 and ganglioside exhibits stronger binding to Nogo-A (Nogo-54) in the presence of p75, suggesting the gangliosides modulate the myelin inhibitor-receptor signaling.     

The nogo receptor family restricts synapse number in the developing hippocampus

Neuronal development is characterized by a period of exuberant synaptic growth that is well studied. However, the mechanisms that restrict this process are less clear. Here we demonstrate that glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell-surface receptors of the Nogo Receptor family (NgR1, NgR2, and NgR3) restrict excitatory synapse formation. Loss of any one of the NgRs results in an increase in synapse number in?vitro, whereas loss of all three is necessary for abnormally elevated synaptogenesis in?vivo. We show that NgR1 inhibits the formation of new synapses in the postsynaptic neuron by signaling through the coreceptor TROY and RhoA. The NgR family is downregulated by neuronal activity, a response that may limit NgR function and facilitate activity-dependent synapse development. These findings suggest that NgR1, a receptor previously shown to restrict axon growth in the adult, also functions in the dendrite as a barrier that limits excitatory synapse number during brain development.     

Nogo on the go

Growth inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS) is a major barrier to axon regeneration. Recent findings indicate that three distinct myelin proteins, myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), Nogo, and oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp), inhibit axon growth by binding a common receptor, the Nogo66 receptor (NgR), and likely converge on a common signaling cascade.     

Identification of a functional epitope of the Nogo receptor by a combinatorial approach using ribosome display

The Nogo receptor (NgR) plays a central role in mediating growth-inhibitory activities of myelin-derived proteins, thereby severely limiting axonal regeneration after injury of the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). The inhibitory proteins Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) all bind to the extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of NgR, which provides a large molecular surface for protein-protein interactions. However, epitopes within the LRR domain of NgR for binding Nogo, MAG and OMgp have not yet been revealed. Here, we report an evolutionary approach based on the ribosome display technology for detecting regions involved in ligand binding. By applying this method of "affinity fingerprinting" to the NgR ligand binding domain we were able to detect a distinct region important for binding to Nogo. Several residues defining the structural epitope of NgR involved in interaction with Nogo were subsequently confirmed by alanine scanning mutagenesis.     

Structure of the Nogo receptor ectodomain: a recognition module implicated in myelin inhibition

Failure of axon regeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is at least partly due to inhibitory molecules associated with myelin. Recent studies suggest that an axon surface protein, the Nogo receptor (NgR), may play a role in this process through an unprecedented degree of crossreactivity with myelin-associated inhibitory ligands. Here, we report the 1.5 A crystal structure and functional characterization of a soluble extracellular domain of the human Nogo receptor. Nogo receptor adopts a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) module whose concave exterior surface contains a broad region of evolutionarily conserved patches of aromatic residues, possibly suggestive of degenerate ligand binding sites. A deep cleft at the C-terminal base of the LRR may play a role in NgR association with the p75 coreceptor. These results now provide a detailed framework for focused structure-function studies aimed at assessing the physiological relevance of NgR-mediated protein-protein interactions to axon regeneration inhibition.     

Characterization of myelin ligand complexes with neuronal Nogo-66 receptor family members

Nogo, MAG, and OMgp are myelin-associated proteins that bind to a neuronal Nogo-66 receptor (NgR/NgR1) to limit axonal regeneration after central nervous system injury. Within Nogo-A, two separate domains are known interact with NgR1. NgR1 is the founding member of the three-member NgR family, whereas Nogo-A (RTN4A) belongs to a four-member reticulon family. Here, we systematically mapped the interactions between these superfamilies, demonstrating novel nanomolar interactions of RTN2 and RTN3 with NgR1. Because RTN3 is expressed in spinal cord white matter, it may have a role in myelin inhibition of axonal growth. Further analysis of the Nogo-A and NgR1 interactions revealed a novel third interaction site between the proteins, suggesting a trivalent Nogo-A interaction with NgR1. We also confirmed here that MAG binds to NgR2, but not to NgR3. Unexpectedly, we found that OMgp interacts with MAG with a higher affinity compared with NgR1. To better define how these multiple structurally distinct ligands bind to NgR1, we examined a series of Ala-substituted NgR1 mutants for ligand binding activity. We found that the core of the binding domain is centered in the middle of the concave surface of the NgR1 leucine-rich repeat domain and surrounded by differentially utilized residues. This detailed knowledge of the molecular interactions between NgR1 and its ligands is imperative when assessing options for development of NgR1-based therapeutics for central nervous system injuries.     

TAJ/TROY, an orphan TNF receptor family member, binds Nogo-66 receptor 1 and regulates axonal regeneration

Myelin-associated inhibitory factors (MAIFs) are inhibitors of CNS axonal regeneration following injury. The Nogo receptor complex, composed of the Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NgR1), neurotrophin p75 receptor (p75), and LINGO-1, represses axon regeneration upon binding to these myelin components. The limited expression of p75 to certain types of neurons and its temporal expression during development prompted speculation that other receptors are involved in the NgR1 complex. Here, we show that an orphan receptor in the TNF family called TAJ, broadly expressed in postnatal and adult neurons, binds to NgR1 and can replace p75 in the p75/NgR1/LINGO-1 complex to activate RhoA in the presence of myelin inhibitors. In vitro exogenously added TAJ reversed neurite outgrowth caused by MAIFs. Neurons from Taj-deficient mice were more resistant to the suppressive action of the myelin inhibitors. Given the limited expression of p75, the discovery of TAJ function is an important step for understanding the regulation of axonal regeneration.