Neural-specific deletion of the focal adhesion adaptor protein paxillin slows migration speed and delays cortical layer formation

Abstract

Paxillin and Hic-5 are homologous focal adhesion adaptor proteins that coordinate cytoskeletal rearrangements in response to integrin-signaling, but their role(s) in cortical development are unknown. Here, we find that Hic-5 deficient mice are postnatal viable with normal cortical layering. Mice with a neural-specific deletion of paxillin are also postnatal viable, but show evidence of a cortical neuron migration delay that is evident pre and perinatally, but is not detected at postnatal day 35 (P35). This phenotype is not modified by Hic-5 deficiency (double knockout). Specific deletion of paxillin in postmitotic neurons by Nex-Cre mediated recombination as well as in utero electroporation of a Cre-expression construct identified a cell-autonomous requirement for paxillin in migrating neurons. Paxillin-deficient neurons have shorter leading processes that exhibited multiple swellings in comparison to control. Multiphoton imaging revealed that paxillin-deficient neurons migrate ∼30% slower than control neurons. This phenotype is similar to that produced by deletion of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a signaling partner of paxillin and suggests paxillin and FAK function cell autonomously to control migrating neuron morphology and speed during cortical development.