Spatial confinement instigates environmental determination of neuronal polarity.
Here we used patterned self-assembled monolayer (SAM) chemistry to explore the role of spatial confinement on the growth and proliferation of a developing neuron. Despite extensive previous work on the molecular mechanisms controlling these processes, classical biological approaches have not been able to clearly distinguish whether differentiation is predetermined or environmentally determined.
Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Chemistry and Center for Materials Innovation, Campus Box 1134, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Dawn M
DM
Johnson
Jad P
JP
Abi-Mansour
Joshua A
JA
Maurer
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*
D007797:Laminin