title: Calcium and chemotropic turning of nerve growth cones.
abstract: Cultured Xenopus spinal neurons exhibit chemotropic turning toward the source of neurotransmitters acetylcholine and glutamate. Here we review the experimental evidence that transmitter-induced turning of the growth cone is mediated by an influx of Ca2+, that a gradient of intracellular Ca2+ within the growth cone is responsible for the directional growth cone response, and that asymmetric filopodia formation precedes and is essential for the turning response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Poo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D015290:Second Messenger Systems
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002118:Calcium