Actin and microtubule-based cytoskeletal cues direct polarized targeting of proteins in neurons.
Neuronal proteins are transported to either the axon or dendrites through the action of kinesin motors; however, understanding of how cytoskeletal elements steer these cargo-motor complexes to one compartment or the other has remained elusive. Three recent developments-the discovery of an actin-based filter within the axon initial segment, the identification of the pivotal role played by myosin motors in dendritic targeting, and the determination of the properties of a kinesin motor that cause it to prefer axonal to dendritic microtubules-have now provided a structural framework for understanding polarized targeting in neurons.
Arnold
Don B
DB
Department of Biology and Program in Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. darnold@usc.edu
D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D021381:Protein Transport
D000199:Actins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016547:Kinesins