title: Analysis of slow-onset neurite formation in NG108-15 cells: implications for a unified model of neurite elongation.
abstract: When undifferentiated NG108-15 cells are plated onto polylysine coated Petri dishes in serum-free medium, they form neurites within 1-4 h if plated in the presence of laminin or 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (rapid-onset neurites). In the absence of such agents, serum-deprived NG108-15 cells extend axon-like neurites onto polylysine over several days; here we characterize the dynamic behavior of this slow-onset outgrowth pattern in detail. Individual cells plated on laminin expressed a gradual multipolar-to-unipolar transition due to rapid-onset neurites becoming remodelled into the appearance of slow-onset neurites. This phenomenon reflected the selective stabilization of certain rapid-onset neurites, along with the restriction of motility to their distal tips. Based upon the properties and interactions of both rapid- and slow-onset neurites in NG108-15 cells, a unified model for neurite formation is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Smalheiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D005910:Glioma; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D011107:Polylysine; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011107:Polylysine