Control of neuronal phenotype: what targets tell the cell bodies.
Assembly of neuronal circuits is controlled by the sequential acquisition of neuronal subpopulation-specific identities at progressive developmental steps. Whereas neuronal features involved in initial phases of differentiation are already established at cell-cycle exit, recent findings, based mainly on work in the peripheral nervous system, suggest that the timely integration of signals encountered en route to targets and from the target region itself is essential to control late steps in connectivity. As neurons project towards their targets they require target-derived signals to establish mature axonal projections and acquire neuronal traits such as the expression of distinct combinations of neurotransmitters. Recent evidence presented in this review shows that this principle, of a signaling interplay between target-derived signals and neuronal cell bodies, is often mediated through transcriptional events and is evolutionarily conserved.
Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland, and Friedrich Miescher Institute, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Simon
S
Hippenmeyer
Ina
I
Kramer
Silvia
S
Arber
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors