title: Caldesmon regulates axon extension through interaction with myosin II.
abstract: To begin the process of forming neural circuits, new neurons first establish their polarity and extend their axon. Axon extension is guided and regulated by highly coordinated cytoskeletal dynamics. Here we demonstrate that in hippocampal neurons, the actin-binding protein caldesmon accumulates in distal axons, and its N-terminal interaction with myosin II enhances axon extension. In cortical neural progenitor cells, caldesmon knockdown suppresses axon extension and neuronal polarity. These results indicate that caldesmon is an important regulator of axon development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Taira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mayanagi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sobue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D024462:Myosin Type II