Role of cell adhesions in neural development: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:05, 22 April 2014

Revision as of 08:31, 13 May 2014

Line 39:

===Growth cone extensions===

[[Growth cone]]s function as structural and chemically sensitive axon directing cellular organelles. Growth cones are highly dynamic in nature and contain a dynamic actin cytoskeleton in their peripheral region undergoing a constant retrograde flow. This retrograde force provides a mechanism for the growth cone to respond to direction cue, thereby directing neuronal axons. Growth cones are known to respond to various mechanical cues, which may be vital in proper nervous system development as growth cones experience a wide variety of mechanical environments as they navigate the extracellular space. Interestingly, research suggest that growth cones from different regions of the brain may respond differently to mechanical cues differently. It has been demonstrated that neural cells located in the hippocampus aren't sensitive to varying mechanical stiffness as it related to outgrowth, where cells originating from the dorsal root ganglion show maximal outgrowth on surfaces of approximately 1 kPa. Both hippocampal and dorsal root ganglion neural growth cones show increased traction force generation on increased stiffness substrates.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Koch|first=Daniel|title=Strength in the Periphery: Growth Cone Biomechanics and Substrate Rigidity Response in Peripheral and Central Nervous System Neurons|journal=Biophysical Journal|date=February 2012|pages=452–460}}</ref> Growth cones utilize integrin migratory machinery such as integrins, but are not a class of cell migration.

===Thy-1 adhesion protein===