title: Growth cone calcium ion channels: properties, clustering, and functional roles.
abstract: Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels appear to constitute a central component of signal transduction cascades in neuronal growth cones. By means of spatially selective superfusion in the subcellular range growth cone, Ca2+ channels were investigated quantitatively. Both principal types of Ca2+ channels, low voltage activated and high voltage activated Ca2+ channels were present in growth cones of cells regenerating neurites in culture as well as growth cones of differentiating neuronal precursor cells. Studies concerning their spatial distribution revealed a remarkable clustering of Ca2+ channels at the growth cone. Their possible functional roles in neurite growth, axonal pathfinding, and synaptogenesis are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gottmann
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules