Assembly of neuron- and radial glial-cell-derived extracellular matrix molecules promotes radial migration of developing cortical neurons

Radial neuronal migration is a key neurodevelopmental event for proper cortical laminar organization. The multipolar-to-bipolar transition, a critical step in establishing neuronal polarity during radial migration, occurs in the subplate/intermediate zone (SP/IZ), a distinct region of the embryonic cerebral cortex. It has been known that the extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules are enriched in the SP/IZ. However, the molecular constitution and functions of the ECM formed in this region remain poorly understood. Here, we identified neurocan (NCAN) as a major chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in the mouse SP/IZ. NCAN binds to both radial glial-cell-derived tenascin-C (TNC) and hyaluronan (HA), a large linear polysaccharide, forming a ternary complex of NCAN, TNC, and HA in the SP/IZ. Developing cortical neurons make contact with the ternary complex during migration. The enzymatic or genetic disruption of the ternary complex impairs radial migration by suppressing the multipolar-to-bipolar transition. Furthermore, both TNC and NCAN promoted the morphological maturation of cortical neurons in vitro. The present results provide evidence for the cooperative role of neuron- and radial glial-cell-derived ECM molecules in cortical development.