Regulation of motor neuron pool sorting by differential expression of type II cadherins

During spinal cord development, motor neurons with common targets and afferent inputs cluster into discrete nuclei, termed motor pools. Motor pools can be delineated by transcription factor expression, but cell surface proteins that distinguish motor pools in a systematic manner have not been identified. We show that the developmentally regulated expression of type II cadherins defines specific motor pools. Expression of one type II cadherin, MN-cadherin, regulates the segregation of motor pools that are normally distinguished by expression of this protein. Type II cadherins are also expressed by proprioceptive sensory neurons, raising the possibility that cadherins regulate additional steps in the development of sensory-motor circuits.