How neurons develop their shapes Flashcards
How are axons and dendrites FUNCTIONALLY distinct?
Dendrites:
- Collect and integrate incoming information
Axons:
- Carry information away from the cell body in action potentials
How are axons and dendrites STRUCTURALLY distinct?
Axons:
- Highly polarised microtubules
Dendrites:
- Microtubules are LESS ORDERED and have MIXED ORIENTATION
How are axons and dendrites MOLECULARLY distinct?
Have DIFFERENT MAPs
Axons: Tau
Dendrites: MAP2
These MAPs cross-link MTs DIFFERENTLY
What are MAPs and why are they needed
Microtubule assembly proteins needed to stabilise microtubules
How do MAP stabilise microtubules?
Cross-link them into bundles
What are the MAPs in axons?
Tau
What are the MAP in dendrites?
MAP2
How is the plasma membrane organised?
COMPARTMENTALISED both intracellularly and on the cell membrane
What is L1?
An adhesion molecule that is restricted to AXONS
What is GluR?
Glutamate receptor that is restricted to the CELL BODY and DENDRITES
How is L1 restricted to the axon?
It is inserted at the GROWTH CONE as the growth cone grows
What is the experiment to show how surface separation is maintained?
What were the results?
What is the conclusion?
- Bead coated with antibodies for L1 or GluR1
- Drop bead onto dish - sticks via antibody to the component interested in
- Use optical tweezers (laser) to move the bead around in the dish
- Measure the force involved in moving the bead
Results:
- Move L1 beads easily in axonal domain
- L1 beads cannot cross the axon hillock
- Cannot move Glut1 into the axon
Conclusion:
- PHYSICAL DIVISION between the dendritic and the axonal domain
How is the physical division between the dendritic and the axonal domain formed?
Due to interaction between the CELL SURFACE molecules and the UNDERLYING CYTOSKELETON
What is the experiment that shows how neuron polarity is set up?
What was seen?
Dissected hippocampal neurons dissociated from early mouse embryo and watched them develop
Seen:
- Initial sprouts and immature neurites
- Ultimately one neurite becomes DOMINANT - growth cone extends away
- Neurites not selected become DENDRITES
What is a neurite?
ANY projection away from the cell body
What molecules are used to mark where axons are forming?
GFP-labelled + end directed kinesins (Kif-1)
What is critical for axon initiation?
How does this occur?
Microtubule stabilisation:
- Growth cones and neurites contain DYNAMIC/UNSTABLE microtubules
- Newly polarised axon contains STABILISED microtubules
What is the difference between dynamic and stabilised microtubules?
Dynamic microtubules are TYROSINATED
Stabilised microtubules are ACETYLATED
How can an axon be artificially chosen?
What does this suggest?
Artificially stabilise MTs using TAXOL treatment of one neurite
Suggests:
- Competition between neurites to stabilise their MTs
- Some come of kind of feedback loop to SUPPRESS other neurites from becoming axons once a decision has been made
What happens when cut oft the growth cone of a neuron in culture?
What does this show?
Another neurite becomes the growth cone
Shows there is a FEEDBACK LOOP to supress other neurites from becoming axons
What is the feedback loop involved in the choice of a neurons?
BOTH positive and negative:
Positive - reinforce decision to become an axon at the growth cone
Negative - to the rest of the cell
What are the two theoretical models of feedback that prevents other neurites from becoming a neuron (negative feedback)?
What is common in both models?
A) Diffusible molecule released into the cell
B) Something LIMITING in the cell that is needed to form the axon - taken into the chosen neurite and is in LIMITED supply (cannot be used elsewhere)
In common: requirement for a positive feedback to AMPLIFY signal for axon formation
What does over expression of HRas cause?
What does this suggest?
Results in multiple neurons
Suggests that Hras is involved in neurite selection
What happens to HRas as the growth cone forms?
What is this consistent with?
HRas accumulates in the growth cone and is depleted from the rest of the cell (shipped down the axon)
Consistent with the idea of a limited component
What does activating PI3K do to HRas?
What happens to PI3K when HRas is activated?
ACTIVATES HRas
When HRas is activated - upregulate PI3K (feedback loop)
What blocks HRas accumulating in the growth cone as it forms?
What does this show?
PI3K inhibitor blocks HRas accumulation in the growth cone
Shows HRas stabilisation in the growth cone is dependant on PI3K
What happens downstream of PI3K?
PI3K elevates PIP3 levels in the membrane
PIP3 phosphorylated GSKbeta and Akt
Where is PIP3 present?
In the GROWH CONE (not in the immature neurites)
What does PIP3 affect? How?
Affects microtubules via PIP3 effects on Rac which act on actin
Through inhibiting GSKbeta
How does PIP3 inhibit GSK3beta?
In 2 ways:
- DIRECTLY through phosphorylation
- Via PHOSPHORYLATION of Akt, which is activated by PIP3