title: Rho family GTPases and dendrite plasticity.
abstract: Dendrite structures exert a profound influence on neuronal information processing. The Rho family GTPases have been implicated in the regulation of dendritic development. Among them, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 have been characterized extensively, and Rac and Cdc42 promote dendrite growth and branching, whereas Rho acts as a negative regulator for dendrite growth. Recently, other members of Rho family GTPases, including Rnd1 and Rnd2, have also been shown to be involved in the regulation of dendrite development. Rnd1 promotes spine maturation, and Rnd2 stimulates dendrite branching through its specific effector, Rapostlin. Thus, a variety of Rho family GTPases play important roles in dendritic development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Biostudies Kyoto University, Japan. mnegishi@pharm.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C470009:Fnbp1 protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins