Nek7 Overexpression in Pyramids Does Not Alter Their Axonal Development
(A and B) Confocal Z projection frames from NexCre growth cones expressing mCherry (red, before the time-lapse), EB3-YFP (gray, time-lapse), and mNek7 in the Nek7 condition. Control (A) and mNek7 (B). The path of EB3-YFP comets is tracked with a red line.
(C and D) Confocal Z projection frames from NexCre growth cones. Control (C) and mNEK7 (D). The last frame in the sequence shows superimposed images of the frames t = 0 min (red), t = 15 min (green), t = 30 min (blue), and t = 45 min (white).
(E and F) Confocal Z projections of NexCre interneurons expressing mCherry. Control (E) and mNek7 (F). The cells were automatically reconstructed and masked in black at 8 DIV.
(G) Average speed of EB3 comets comparing control pyramids (A; n = 53 growth cones) and Nek7-expressing pyramids (B; n = 54 growth cones) from three independent cultures.
(H and I) Average of growth cone maximum turning angle (H) and axonal speed (I) from control pyramids (C; n = 73 growth cones) and Nek7-expressing pyramids (D; n = 74 growth cones) from three independent cultures.
(J and K) Neurite length (J) and branching points (K) comparing control pyramids (E; n = 44 cells) and Nek7-expressing pyramids (F; n = 38 cells) transfected neurons from three independent cultures.
One-way ANOVA (G and I) and Mann-Whitney test (H, J, and K). n.s., not significant. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Scale bars represent 2 μm (A and B), 5 μm (C and D), and 200 μm (E and F).