# The role of dystroglycan in neural circuit development.

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $336,875

## Abstract

Project Summary
The formation of functional neural circuits requires the proper migration of newly generated
neurons, precise guidance of axons to the appropriate postsynaptic targets, the formation of
elaborate dendritic arbors and establishment of synaptic connections. These processes depend
on the reiterative use of cell-surface receptors throughout development that respond to
instructive cues present in the extracellular environment. The transmembrane glycoprotein
dystroglycan is involved in multiple aspects of neural circuit development, including axon
guidance and dendritic arborization. The objective of this proposal is to define the specific
molecular pathways that dystroglycan functions within to regulate these processes. The first aim
tests the hypothesis that dystroglycan interacts with the planar cell polarity (PCP) protein Celsr3
to regulate axon guidance. The experiments proposed in this aim will define which cellular
populations dystroglycan functions in to regulate axon guidance in vivo, determine how
dystroglycan and Celsr3 interact in vitro and in vivo and investigate how the loss of dystroglycan
affects signaling downstream of PCP pathway activation. The second aim will focus on
understanding the role of dystroglycan in regulating dendritic arborization. Specifically, the
experiments outlined will examine how dendritic morphology is affected in models of
dystroglycanopathy, determine if dystroglycan functions cell-autonomously and provide
mechanistic insight into the intracellular signaling cascades downstream of dystroglycan that
regulate dendritic morphology. Taken together, the proposed experiments will define the role of
dystroglycan in regulating multiple aspects of neural circuit development and provide insight into
how these processes are affected in individuals with mutations that affect normal dystroglycan
function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979988
- **Project number:** 5R01NS091027-05
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kevin Wright
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $336,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979988

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979988, The role of dystroglycan in neural circuit development. (5R01NS091027-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979988. Licensed CC0.

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