title: Ephrin reverse signaling in axon guidance and synaptogenesis.
abstract: Axon-cell and axon-dendrite contact is a highly regulated process necessary for the formation of precise neural circuits and a functional neural network. Eph-ephrin interacting molecules on the membranes of axon nerve terminals and target dendrites act as bidirectional ligands/receptors to transduce signals into both the Eph-expressing and ephrin-expressing cells to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics. In particular, recent evidence indicates that ephrin reverse signal transduction events are important in controlling both axonal and dendritic elaborations of neurons in the developing nervous system. Here we review how ephrin reverse signals are transduced into neurons to control maturation of axonal pre-synaptic and dendritic post-synaptic structures.
authors: Department of Developmental Biology, Kent Waldrep Center for Basic Research on Nerve Growth and Regeneration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Nanjie.Xu@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors: Nan-Jie
authors: NJ
authors: Xu
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Henkemeyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D036342:Ephrins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D036342:Ephrins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins