Driving actin dynamics under the influence of alcohol.
The actin cytoskeleton plays a pivotal role in regulating neuronal development and activity, and dysregulation of actin dynamics has been linked to impaired cognitive function. In this issue of Cell Rothenfluh et al. (2006) , and Offenhäuser et al. (2006) show that actin dynamics can also affect the cellular and behavioral responses of flies and mice to alcohol.
Sordella
Raffaella
R
Center for Molecular Therapeutics, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
Van Aelst
Linda
L
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C085379:rho GTPase-activating protein; D000431:Ethanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate