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Polarity of the Cytoskeleton

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The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...

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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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Cytoplasm

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

In Situ Visualization of Axon Growth and Growth Cone Dynamics in Acute Ex Vivo Embryonic Brain Slice Cultures

In Situ Visualization of Axon Growth and Growth Cone Dynamics in Acute Ex Vivo Embryonic Brain Slice Cultures

Published on: October 14, 2021

Neuronal polarization and the cytoskeleton.

Dorothee Neukirchen¹, Frank Bradke

¹Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Axon Growth and Regeneration, Bonn, Germany.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology

|September 3, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Neuronal polarization requires coordinated actin and microtubule cytoskeleton rearrangements for axon formation. Plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs) are key regulators, linking actin and microtubules to guide this essential brain development process.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology

Background:

Neuronal polarization is crucial for brain function, enabling information integration and propagation.
Axon formation is the central event in neuronal polarization.
Cytoskeletal dynamics, particularly actin and microtubules, are fundamental to axonogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the role of the cytoskeleton in driving neuronal polarization.
To discuss the specific contributions of actin and microtubules to axon formation.
To highlight the function of cytoskeletal regulatory proteins and plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs) in specifying the axon and mediating cross-talk between cytoskeletal networks.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on cytoskeletal dynamics in neuronal development.
Analysis of the roles of actin, microtubules, and associated proteins.
Examination of the function of plus end tracking proteins (+TIPs).

Main Results:

The actin cytoskeleton and microtubules undergo tightly regulated rearrangements during axon formation.
Specific cytoskeletal binding and regulating proteins are essential for axon specification.
+TIPs act as critical mediators between the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons, influencing neuronal polarity.

Conclusions:

The cytoskeleton is the primary driver of neuronal polarization and axon formation.
Cytoskeletal regulatory proteins and +TIPs are indispensable for establishing neuronal polarity.
Understanding these mechanisms provides insights into broader cellular polarity processes.