The centrosome neither persistently leads migration nor determines the site of axonogenesis in migrating neurons in vivo

Abstract

The position of the centrosome ahead of the nucleus has been considered crucial for coordinating neuronal migration in most developmental situations. The proximity of the centrosome has also been correlated with the site of axonogenesis in certain differentiating neurons. Despite these positive correlations, accumulating experimental findings appear to negate a universal role of the centrosome in determining where an axon forms, or in leading the migration of neurons. To further examine this controversy in an in vivo setting, we have generated cell type–specific multi-cistronic gene expression to monitor subcellular dynamics in the developing zebrafish cerebellum. We show that migration of rhombic lip–derived neurons is characterized by a centrosome that does not persistently lead the nucleus, but which is instead regularly overtaken by the nucleus. In addition, axonogenesis is initiated during the onset of neuronal migration and occurs independently of centrosome proximity. These in vivo data reveal a new temporal orchestration of organelle dynamics and provide important insights into the variation in intracellular processes during vertebrate brain differentiation.