title: Building Blocks of Functioning Brain: Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Neuronal Development.
abstract: Neural connectivity requires proper polarization of neurons, guidance to appropriate target locations, and establishment of synaptic connections. From when neurons are born to when they finally reach their synaptic partners, neurons undergo constant rearrangment of the cytoskeleton to achieve appropriate shape and polarity. Of particular importance to neuronal guidance to target locations is the growth cone at the tip of the axon. Growth-cone steering is also dictated by the underlying cytoskeleton. All these changes require spatiotemporal control of the cytoskeletal machinery. This review summarizes the proteins that are involved in modulating the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton during the various stages of neuronal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Neuroscience Center and Curriculum in Neurobiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America. Electronic address: sgupton@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gupton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: actin; binding proteins; cytoskeleton; growth cone; microtubule; neuron