Neuronal signaling through endocytosis.
The distinctive morphology of neurons, with complex dendritic arbors and extensive axons, presents spatial challenges for intracellular signal transduction. The endosomal system provides mechanisms that enable signaling molecules initiated by extracellular cues to be trafficked throughout the expanse of the neuron, allowing intracellular signals to be sustained over long distances. Therefore endosomes are critical for many aspects of neuronal signaling that regulate cell survival, axonal growth and guidance, dendritic branching, and cell migration. An intriguing characteristic of neuronal signal transduction is that endosomal trafficking enables physiological responses that vary based on the subcellular location of signal initiation. In this review, we will discuss the specialized mechanisms and the functional significance of endosomal signaling in neurons, both during normal development and in disease.
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Katharina E
KE
Cosker
Rosalind A
RA
Segal
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000473:pathology; D011992:Endosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins