, 2007). And the results presented here predict that this autoimmune response will selectively destabilize the AIS. Further, it has been shown in a stroke model that AIS are much more susceptible to hypoxia-induced proteolytic degradation than nodes of Ranvier (Schafer et al., 2009). Hence, irrespective of the initial insult, the vulnerability of the AIS to attack is likely to undermine neuronal function. In summary, we find that following assembly of the AIS, Nfasc186 appears to act as an anchor that maintains

the appropriate localization of critical components MAPK inhibitor including AnkryinG and sodium channels. Modified action potential firing following deletion of Nfasc186 is consistent with these anatomical observations, while also supporting the view that, although an intact AIS is not necessary for action potential initiation, it modulates action potential firing. Together our results suggest that distinct molecular mechanisms are used for the developmental assembly and the adult maintenance of the AIS. This may be critical for flexible regulation of computations that transform synaptic input into patterns of spike output suitable for the control of downstream neurons. All animal work conformed to UK legislation (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and to the University of Edinburgh Ethical Review Committee policy. The generation of Nfasc−/− mice has been described

( Sherman et al., 2005). Nfascflox mice were generated following the same strategy, but with an alternative excision where only the Selleck 3-deazaneplanocin A PGKneo-HSVtk cassette was removed and where the preserved exon 4 was flanked by two loxP sites. Transgenic mice expressing a full-length cDNA encoding Nfasc186 or a cDNA encoding the Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II inducible Cre recombinase CreERT2 under the control of the Thy1.2 promoter ( Caroni, 1997) were generated by pronuclear injection as described ( Sherman and Brophy, 2000). For the Thy1Nfasc186 construct, a FLAG tag sequence was first inserted at the 3′ of the coding region. The cDNA was then cloned into the XhoI site

of the pTSC21k vector ( Lüthi et al., 1997) and was released using NotI. After backcrossing to a C57BL/6 background, one of the lines was interbred with Nfasc+/− mice to generate Nfasc−/−/Nfasc186 mice. The Thy1CreERT2 transgene comprised cDNA encoding CreERT2 excised from the pCreERT2 vector ( Feil et al., 1997 and Imai et al., 2001) using EcoRI after which it was blunt ended, cloned into the XhoI site of the pTSC21k vector, and released using NotI. After backcrossing to a C57BL/6 background, the Thy1CreERT2 (TCE) line was interbred with the Rosa26-YFP ( Srinivas et al., 2001) reporter line or successively interbred with Nfasc+/− and Nfascfl/fl mice to generate Nfasc−/fl/Thy1CreERT2 mice. Tamoxifen (Sigma) was dissolved in sunflower oil/ethanol (10:1 ratio) at 10 mg/ml. Recombination was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.18 mg/g body weight/day into 3-week-old animals for 5 consecutive days.