title: Key regulators in neuronal polarity.
abstract: Neurons are highly polarized cells, most of which develop a single axon and several dendrites. These two compartments acquire specific characteristics that enable neurons to transmit intercellular signals from several dendrites to an axon. A wealth of recent studies has shown that PI 3-kinase, Rho family GTPases, the Par complex, and cytoskeleton-related proteins participate in the initial events of neuronal polarization. Here, we review the role of polarity-regulating molecules and the potential mechanisms underlying the specification of an axon and dendrites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Pharmacology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Nariko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaibuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins