LOTUS, an endogenous Nogo receptor antagonist, is involved in synapse and memory formation

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 3;11(1):5085. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84106-y.

Abstract

The Nogo signal is involved in impairment of memory formation. We previously reported the lateral olfactory tract usher substance (LOTUS) as an endogenous antagonist of the Nogo receptor 1 that mediates the inhibition of axon growth and synapse formation. Moreover, we found that LOTUS plays an essential role in neural circuit formation and nerve regeneration. However, the effects of LOTUS on synapse formation and memory function have not been elucidated. Here, we clearly showed the involvement of LOTUS in synapse formation and memory function. The cultured hippocampal neurons derived from lotus gene knockout (LOTUS-KO) mice exhibited a decrease in synaptic density compared with those from wild-type mice. We also found decrease of dendritic spine formation in the adult hippocampus of LOTUS-KO mice. Finally, we demonstrated that LOTUS deficiency impairs memory formation in the social recognition test and the Morris water maze test, indicating that LOTUS is involved in functions of social and spatial learning and memory. These findings suggest that LOTUS affects synapse formation and memory function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Knockout Techniques / methods
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morris Water Maze Test
  • Nerve Regeneration / genetics
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nogo Receptor 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nogo Receptor 1 / metabolism*
  • Olfactory Bulb / metabolism*
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Synapses / genetics
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Crtac1 protein, mouse
  • Nogo Receptor 1
  • Rtn4r protein, mouse