title: From neuronal activity to the actin cytoskeleton: a role for CaMKKs and betaPIX in spine morphogenesis.
abstract: Electrical activity plays a crucial role in neuronal circuit assembly. Activation of NMDA receptors induces the elevation of intracellular calcium, resulting in the modulation of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs). The CaMK pathway regulates synaptogenesis by driving the formation of dendritic spines. However, the molecular effectors downstream of this pathway have remained poorly defined. In this issue of Neuron, Saneyoshi et al. identify a new signaling complex containing CaMKK/CaMKI/betaPIX/Rac that regulates the morphogenesis of spines in an activity-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, University Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Salinas
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology*; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology*; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D064067:Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D064067:Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases