Lateral olfactory tract usher substance explained

Lateral olfactory tract usher substance (LOTUS), also known as Cartilage acidic protein-1B (Crtac1B), is a membrane protein produced by neurons. During embryonic development, it is strongly expressed in the olfactory bulb by Mitral cells.^[1]

Function

LOTUS is an endogenous antagonist of the Nogo receptor (NgR1) and Paired Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B (PirB in mice, LilrB2 in humans). These receptors block neuronal outgrowth when activated. By blocking their function, LOTUS promotes neuronal growth, e.g. during the formation of the lateral olfactory tract.^[2] As LOTUS generates a permissive brain environment for neuronal regeneration, it may aid recovery after spinal cord injury. It also has been shown to reduce synapse loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.^[3]

References

1. Sato Y, Iketani M, Kurihara Y, Yamaguchi M, Yamashita N, Nakamura F, Arie Y, Kawasaki T, Hirata T, Abe T, Kiyonari H, Strittmatter SM, Goshima Y, Takei K . 6 . Cartilage acidic protein-1B (LOTUS), an endogenous Nogo receptor antagonist for axon tract formation . Science . 333 . 6043 . 769–773 . August 2011 . 21817055 . 10.1126/science.1204144 . 3244695 . 2011Sci...333..769S .
2. Takase H, Kurihara Y, Yokoyama TA, Kawahara N, Takei K . LOTUS overexpression accelerates neuronal plasticity after focal brain ischemia in mice . PLOS ONE . 12 . 9 . e0184258 . 2017-09-07 . 28880879 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0184258 . 5589167 . 2017PLoSO..1284258T . free .
3. Kawaguchi Y, Matsubayashi J, Kawakami Y, Nishida R, Kurihara Y, Takei K . LOTUS suppresses amyloid β-induced dendritic spine elimination through the blockade of amyloid β binding to PirB . Molecular Medicine . 28 . 1 . 154 . December 2022 . 36510132 . 9743548 . 10.1186/s10020-022-00581-7 . free .