Aim: 

In the nervous tissue a large number of axonal surface adhesive glycoproteins are expressed during development. Among them F3/Contactin plays a relevant role in neural development and function due to its complex molecular interactions and to the complex profile of its cell type-specific and developmental expression.

Methods: 

The significance of F3/Contactin expression is here addressed by using two different in vitro models. i) the effects of exogenous F3/Contactin in precursors proliferation/differentiation events are studied by incubating E14 forebrain primary cultures with the purified molecule; ii) neurospheres are generated from the TAG/F3 transgenic mice, in which early F3/Contactin overexpression is driven under control of the TAG-1 gene regulatory region.

Results: 

In both cases increased proliferation and reduced differentiation of neuronal precursors are observed, with opposite effects on glial precursors. These data indicate that F3/Contactin overexpression inhibits neuronal phenotype while promoting glial differentiation, both considered potential consequences on Notch pathway activation. The involvement of the Notch pathway in the above effects is indicated by a concomitant sharp upregulation in differentiated cell of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and of the Hes-1 transcription factor.

Conclusion: 

Overall these data suggest that F3/Contactin may control neural development by activating pathways provided of a crucial role in neurogenesis as the Notch pathway.