The role of Rho GTPases and associated kinases in regulating neurite outgrowth.
Neurones are highly specialised cells that can extend over great distances, enabling the complex networking of the nervous system. We are beginning to understand in detail the molecular mechanisms that control the shape of neurones during development. One family of proteins that are clearly essential are the Rho GTPases which have a pivotal role in regulating the actin cytoskeleton in all cell types. The Rho GTPases are responsible for the activation and downregulation of many downstream kinases. This review discusses individual kinases that are regulated by three members of the Rho GTPases, Rac, Rho and Cdc42 and their function during neurite outgrowth and remodelling.
Nikolic
Margareta
M
Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology MRC Centre, New Hunt's House, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK. margareta.nikolic@kcl.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016501:Neurites / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology
D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; C495905:CDK5 protein, human; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein