title: Rho GTPases as regulators of morphological neuroplasticity.
abstract: GTPases function as intracellular, bimolecular switches by adopting different conformational states in response to binding GDP or GTP. Their activation is mediated through cell-surface receptors. Rho GTPases act on several downstream effectors involved in cellular morphogenesis, cell polarity, migration and cell division. In neurons, Rho GTPases regulate various features of dendritic and axonal outgrowth during development and regeneration mainly through their effects on the cytoskeleton. This review summarizes the main functions of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases as key regulators of morphological neuroplasticity under normal and pathological conditions.
authors: Division of Neuroanatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 59, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Auer
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Hausott
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Klimaschewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins