Molecular motors in cargo trafficking and synapse assembly.

Robert van den Berg, Casper C Hoogenraad

Cell Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology 2012

filter terms:

Every production process, be it cellular or industrial, depends on a constant supply of energy and resources. Synapses, specialized junctions in the central nervous system through which neurons signal to each other, are no exception to this rule. In order to form new synapses and alter the strength of synaptic transmission, neurons need a regulatory mechanism to deliver and remove synaptic proteins at synaptic sites. Neurons make use of active transport driven by molecular motor proteins to move synaptic cargo over either microtubules (kinesin, dynein) or actin filaments (myosin) to their specific site of action. These mechanisms are crucial for the initial establishment of synaptic specializations during synaptogenesis and for activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength during plasticity. In this chapter, we address the organization of the neuronal cytoskeleton, focus on synaptic cargo transport activities that operate in axons and dendrites, and discuss the spatial and temporal regulation of motor protein-based transport.

Citation

Robert van den Berg, Casper C Hoogenraad. Molecular motors in cargo trafficking and synapse assembly. Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 2012;970:173-96