The role of gangliosides in the organisation of the node of Ranvier examined in glycosyltransferase transgenic mice

McGonigal, R. and Willison, H. J. (2022) The role of gangliosides in the organisation of the node of Ranvier examined in glycosyltransferase transgenic mice. Journal of Anatomy, 241(5), pp. 1259-1271. (doi: 10.1111/joa.13562) (PMID:34605014) (PMCID:PMC9558150)

Abstract

Gangliosides are a family of sialic acid containing glycosphingolipids highly enriched in plasma membranes of the vertebrate nervous system. They are functionally diverse in modulating nervous system integrity, notably at the node of Ranvier, and also act as receptors for many ligands including toxins and autoantibodies. They are synthesised in a stepwise manner by groups of glycosyl- and sialyltransferases in a developmentally and tissue regulated manner. In this review, we summarise and discuss data derived from transgenic mice with different transferase deficiencies that have been used to determine the role of glycolipids in the organisation of the node of Ranvier. Understanding their role at this specialised functional site is crucial to determining differential pathophysiology following directed genetic or autoimmune injury to peripheral nerve nodal or paranodal domains, and revealing the downstream consequences of axo-glial disruption.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the Wellcome Trust (Grants 092805 and 202789).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Willison, Professor Hugh and McGonigal, Dr Rhona
• Authors: McGonigal, R., and Willison, H. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Journal of Anatomy
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0021-8782
• ISSN (Online): 1469-7580
• Published Online: 03 October 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Anatomy 241(5): 1259-1271
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
165079		The structural and functional diversity of anti-glycolipid antibody repertoires and their nerve binding domains in human autoimmune neuropathy	Hugh Willison	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	092805/Z/10/Z	III - Immunology
173549		Pathophysiological factors in the diagnosis and treatment of the Guillain-Barre syndromes	Hugh Willison	Wellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)	202789/Z/16/Z	III - Immunology