Different modes of growth cone collapse in NG 108-15 cells.

Philipp Rauch, Paul Heine, Barbara Goettgens, Josef A Käs

European biophysics journal : EBJ 2013 Aug

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In the fundamental process of neuronal path-finding, a growth cone at the tip of every neurite detects and follows multiple guidance cues regulating outgrowth and initiating directional changes. While the main focus of research lies on the cytoskeletal dynamics underlying growth cone advancement, we investigated collapse and retraction mechanisms in NG108-15 growth cones transiently transfected with mCherry-LifeAct and pCS2+/EMTB-3XGFP for filamentous actin and microtubules, respectively. Using fluorescence time lapse microscopy we could identify two distinct modes of growth cone collapse leading either to neurite retraction or to a controlled halt of neurite extension. In the latter case, lateral movement and folding of actin bundles (filopodia) confine microtubule extension and limit microtubule-based expansion processes without the necessity of a constantly engaged actin turnover machinery. We term this previously unreported second type fold collapse and suggest that it marks an intermediate-term mode of growth regulation closing the gap between full retraction and small scale fluctuations.

Citation

Philipp Rauch, Paul Heine, Barbara Goettgens, Josef A Käs. Different modes of growth cone collapse in NG 108-15 cells. European biophysics journal : EBJ. 2013 Aug;42(8):591-605