title: The role of the cytoskeleton in neuromuscular junction formation.
abstract: The cytoskeleton plays a vital role in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation. It is responsible for shaping synaptic membrane into folds opposed to presynaptic active zones and anchoring acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) to the crest of the junctional folds. Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) associate with the actin cytoskeleton, the disruption of which affects spontaneous and agrin-induced AChR clusters (Prives et al., 1982; Connolly, 1984; Peng and Phelan, 1984; Bloch, 1986; Dai et al., 2000). How AChRs are tethered to the actin cytoskeleton remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Program of Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors.forename: G Clement
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Dobbins
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000502:physiology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D049411:Utrophin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D049411:Utrophin; C051609:peripheral membrane protein 43K; D000185:Actinin; D049030:Dystroglycans