Axonal Growth, Synaptogenesis, Tropism Flashcards
1
Q
neuronal polarization
A
- first step in neuronal identity and the formation of connections
- neuron starts round with no obvious processes
- over time begins to extend multiple processes and becomes multi polar
- one of the processes become the axon, which defines the polarity
- at the tip of the axon is growth cone
2
Q
growth cone
A
- specialized motile structure at tip of extending axon
- explores extracellular environment, determines direction of growth, and guides extension of axon
- key decision making structure in axon pathfinding
- lamellapodium-fan shaped sheet at tip of axon, contains actin filaments and MT
- filopodia-fine processes extending out from lamellapodium, contain actin filaments, form and disappear rapidly
3
Q
cytoskeletal elements in growth cones
A
- G actin can be incorporated into F actin at the leading edge of filopodium in response to environmental clues
- key to turning is binding of F actin binding proteins to F actin, which regulates retrograde flow
- when encountering an attractive cue assembly is increased and retrograde flow slowed causing turning towards the attractive cue
- MT make the core of the cytoskeleton in the axon-extremely stable and strong
- modulation of interactions with MT modulate stability and turning of the axons
- MT responsible for axon elongation, F actin dictates direction
4
Q
F actin
A
-in lamellipodium and filopodia
5
Q
tyrosinated MT
A
-in lamellipodia
6
Q
acetylated MT
A
only in axons
7
Q
axon guidance molecules
A
- non-diffusible-short range-contact attraction and repulsion
- diffusible-long range-chemoattraction/repulsion
- all four types may act in concert to guide axon to appropriate target
- binding of axon guidance molecules to receptors on growth cones turns on cascades that result in reorganization of the growth cone cytoskeleton which controls direction and rate at which growth cone moves
8
Q
ECM molecules
A
- non-diffusible guidance molecules
- attractive
- collagen, fibronectin, laminin
- bind to integrins on growth cone
- mostly PNS
9
Q
CNS ECM molecules
A
- non diffusible?
- largely repulsive
- hyaluron, proteoglycans, glycoproteins
- poorly understood
10
Q
cell adhesion molecules
A
- non-diffusible
- attractive
- on axons, growth cones, surrounding cells/targets
- act as ligands and receptors via homophilic binding
- calcium independent
- ligand/receptor interaction induces interaction with cytoplasmic kinases in growth cone
- L1 CAM associated with fasciculation of groups of axons as they grow
11
Q
cadherins
A
- non-diffusible
- attractive
- located on axons, growth cones, surrounding cells/targets
- act as ligands and receptors via homophilic binding
- calcium dependent
- triggers intracellular pathway that lead to actin binding and organization
12
Q
semaphorins
A
- non-diffusible
- mostly repellent
- can be secreted or anchored to the cell surface
- secreted forms are probably attached to the cell surface or ECM
- receptors on growth cones are plexin family, cell surface forms bind directly to plexins, secreted forms bind to neuropilins then plexins
- results in growth cone collapse and inhibition of axon extension via receptor interaction with signaling molecules
13
Q
ephrins
A
- non-diffusible
- repellent
- cell surface signaling molecules similar to CAM
- A-GPI linked to cell surface
- B-single pass transmembrane proteins
- each class has receptors on growth cones, receptor tyrosine kinases
- collapses growth cone
14
Q
optic tectum
A
- axons from retina make precise connections with tectum
- temporal to anterior
- nasal to posterior
- ephrins are expressed in an AP gradient with higher concentration on posterior side (more ephrins in the back-pushes temporal axons to front)
- axons from temporal retina are repulsed by ephrin in posterior tectum
- axons from nasal retina bind to ephrin because they lack the receptor
15
Q
netrins
A
- diffusible
- attractive or repellent-depends on receptors
- secreted by target cells in midline of embryo
- attractive receptors are DCC fam
- repellent are UNC5 fam-activate Rho/GAPs and disassemble actin
- K/O of netrins stops crossing over of commisural axons