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Action Potentials01:41

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Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
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Nervous Tissue: Myelin01:25

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The myelin sheath is a multilayered lipid and protein covering that insulates the axon of a neuron, enhancing the speed of nerve impulse conduction. Axons without this sheath are referred to as unmyelinated. Two types of neuroglia, Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) are responsible for producing myelin sheaths.
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Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
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Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
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Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy CARS Application for Imaging Myelination in Brain Slices
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Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy CARS Application for Imaging Myelination in Brain Slices

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Myelination: all about Rac 'n' roll.

Jonah R Chan1

  • 1Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. jonah.chan@usc.edu

The Journal of Cell Biology
|June 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Schwann cells use Rac1 to extend processes, enabling the selection of single axons for myelination during peripheral nervous system development. This clarifies key molecular steps before myelination.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Peripheral nervous system development involves Schwann cells ensheathing individual axons.
  • Radial sorting is a critical process where Schwann cells establish one-to-one axon-Schwann cell relationships.

Discussion:

  • The Rho family GTPase Rac1 is identified as a key mediator in Schwann cell process extension.
  • Rac1 activity is crucial for lamellipodia formation, facilitating radial sorting.

Key Insights:

  • Rac1 acts downstream to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics in Schwann cells.
  • This molecular mechanism is essential for the precise spatial organization of axons during development.

Outlook:

  • Further research can explore upstream regulators of Rac1 in this context.

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  • Understanding these pathways may offer insights into developmental neuropathies.