Actomyosin Contractility in the Generation and Plasticity of Axons and Dendritic Spines.

Marina Mikhaylova, Jakob Rentsch, Helge Ewers

Journal: Cells 2021;9(9):2006

PMID: 32882840

Abstract

Actin and non-muscle myosins have long been known to play important roles in growth cone steering and neurite outgrowth. More recently, novel functions for non-muscle myosin have been described in axons and dendritic spines. Consequently, possible roles of actomyosin contraction in organizing and maintaining structural properties of dendritic spines, the size and location of axon initial segment and axonal diameter are emerging research topics. In this review, we aim to summarize recent findings involving myosin localization and function in these compartments and to discuss possible roles for actomyosin in their function and the signaling pathways that control them.

Address: RG Optobiology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany.; DFG Emmy Noether Group 'Neuronal Protein Transport', Center for Molecular Neurobiology, ZMNH, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany.; Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.

DOI: 10.3390/cells9092006

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MeSH Terms: Actin Cytoskeleton, Actins, Axons, Calcium, Calcium Signaling, Calpain, Cell Compartmentation, Dendritic Spines, Humans, Myosins, Neuronal Plasticity, Spectrin