Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Sep 2021)
Cytoskeleton and Membrane Organization at Axon Branches
Abstract
Axon branching is a critical process ensuring a high degree of interconnectivity for neural network formation. As branching occurs at sites distant from the soma, it is necessary that axons have a local system to dynamically control and regulate axonal growth. This machinery depends on the orchestration of cellular functions such as cytoskeleton, subcellular transport, energy production, protein- and membrane synthesis that are adapted for branch formation. Compared to the axon shaft, branching sites show a distinct and dynamic arrangement of cytoskeleton components, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. This review discusses the regulation of axon branching in the context of cytoskeleton and membrane remodeling.
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