title: Axon extension in the fast and slow lanes: substratum-dependent engagement of myosin II functions.
abstract: Axon extension involves the coordinated regulation of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Actin filaments drive protrusion of filopodia and lamellipodia while microtubules invade the growth cone, thereby providing structural support for the nascent axon. Furthermore, in order for axons to extend the growth cone must attach to the substratum. Previous work indicates that myosin II activity inhibits the advance of microtubules into the periphery of growth cones, and myosin II has also been implicated in mediating integrin-dependent cell attachment. However, it is not clear how the functions of myosin II in regulating substratum attachment and microtubule advance are integrated during axon extension. We report that inhibition of myosin II function decreases the rate of axon extension on laminin, but surprisingly promotes extension rate on polylysine. The differential effects of myosin II inhibition on axon extension rate are attributable to myosin II having the primary function of mediating substratum attachment on laminin, but not on polylysine. Conversely, on polylysine the primary function of myosin II is to inhibit microtubule advance into growth cones. Thus, the substratum determines the role of myosin II in axon extension by controlling the functions of myosin II that contribute to extension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ketschek
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007797:Laminin; D011107:Polylysine; D024462:Myosin Type II