Neuronal polarization: From spatiotemporal signaling to cytoskeletal dynamics

Neuronal polarization establishes distinct molecular structures to generate a single axon and multiple dendrites. Studies over the past years indicate that this efficient separation is brought about by a network of feedback loops. Axonal growth seems to play a major role in fueling those feedback lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMolecular and cellular neuroscience Vol. 84; pp. 11 - 28
Main Authors Schelski, Max, Bradke, Frank
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2017
Subjects
Animals
Axonal growth
Axons - physiology
Cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton - metabolism
Dendrites - physiology
Feedback loops
Humans
Microtubules - metabolism
Neuronal polarity
Neurons - cytology
Signal Transduction - physiology
Signaling
Signaling
Cytoskeleton
Axonal growth
Feedback loops
Neuronal polarity
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Summary:Neuronal polarization establishes distinct molecular structures to generate a single axon and multiple dendrites. Studies over the past years indicate that this efficient separation is brought about by a network of feedback loops. Axonal growth seems to play a major role in fueling those feedback loops and thereby stabilizing neuronal polarity. Indeed, various effectors involved in feedback loops are pivotal for axonal growth by ultimately acting on the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. These effectors have key roles in interconnecting actin and microtubule dynamics – a mechanism crucial to commanding the growth of axons. We propose a model connecting signaling with cytoskeletal dynamics and neurite growth to better describe the underlying processes involved in neuronal polarization. We will discuss the current views on feedback loops and highlight the current limits of our understanding. •Feedback loops drive axon specification by promoting growth of one neurite and inhibiting growth of the other neurites•Feedback loops are fueled by the neurite-length dependent accumulation of proteins, including polarity effectors•Many polarity effectors are part of neurite-growth promoting signaling pathways and feedback loops•Polarity effectors increase neurite growth by regulating the growth-cone cytoskeleton or membrane dynamics•During neurite growth, the actin- and microtubule cytoskeleton are tightly coordinated with membrane dynamics
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SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1044-7431
1095-9327
1095-9327
DOI:10.1016/j.mcn.2017.03.008