title: Real time imaging of calcium-induced localized proteolytic activity after axotomy and its relation to growth cone formation.
abstract: The emergence of a neuronal growth cone from a transected axon is a necessary step in the sequence of events that leads to successful regeneration. Yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying its formation after axotomy are unknown. In this study, we show by real time imaging of the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration, of proteolytic activity, and of growth cone formation that the activation of localized and transient Ca2+-dependent proteolysis is a necessary step in the cascade of events that leads to growth cone formation. Inhibition of this proteolytic activity by calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, abolishes growth cone formation. We suggest that calpain plays a central role in the reorganization of the axon's cytoskeleton during its transition from a stable differentiated structure into a dynamically extending growth cone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gitler
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Spira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia; D019771:Axotomy; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D002154:Calpain / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013049:Spectrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004151:Dipeptides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013049:Spectrin; C071482:calpeptin; D002154:Calpain; D002118:Calcium