title: The local differentiation of myelinated axons at nodes of Ranvier.
abstract: Efficient and rapid propagation of action potentials in myelinated axons depends on the molecular specialization of the nodes of Ranvier. The nodal region is organized into several distinct domains, each of which contains a unique set of ion channels, cell-adhesion molecules and cytoplasmic adaptor proteins. Voltage-gated Na+ channels - which are concentrated at the nodes - are separated from K+ channels - which are clustered at the juxtaparanodal region - by a specialized axoglial contact that is formed between the axon and the myelinating cell at the paranodes. This local differentiation of myelinated axons is tightly regulated by oligodendrocytes and myelinating Schwann cells, and is achieved through complex mechanisms that are used by another specialized cell-cell contact - the synapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poliak
authors.forename: Elior
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D011901:Ranvier's Nodes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels