title: Molecular motors in neurons: transport mechanisms and roles in brain function, development, and disease.
abstract: The kinesin, dynein, and myosin superfamily molecular motors have fundamental roles in neuronal function, plasticity, morphogenesis, and survival by transporting cargos such as synaptic vesicle precursors, neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factor receptors, and mRNAs within axons, dendrites, and synapses. Recent studies have begun to clarify the mechanisms of cargo selection and directional transport in subcellular compartments. Furthermore, molecular genetics has revealed unexpected roles for molecular motors in brain wiring, neuronal survival, neuronal plasticity, higher brain function, and control of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system development. Finally, it is also evident that molecular motors are critically involved in neuronal disease pathogenesis. Thus, molecular motor research is becoming an exciting frontier of neuroscience.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Molecular Structure and Dynamics, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. hirokawa@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins