title: Regulation of axonal development by plasma membrane gangliosides.
abstract: Gangliosides present in the plasma membrane participate in fundamental processes during neuronal development. From the determination and the outgrowth of the axon, to the growth inhibitory activity produced after CNS injury, local interconversion of these glycosphingolipids regulate actin dynamics in a spatially restricted manner by modulating membrane receptors and their downstream signaling pathways. Here, we will review the possible mechanisms underlying these modulations and the potential importance of gangliosides and ganglioside-transforming enzymes as therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB11), Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. jose.abadrodriguez@med.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abad-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides