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Related Concept Videos

Neurons: The Axon01:21

Neurons: The Axon

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Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
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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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Action Potential01:31

Action Potential

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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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Action Potential01:14

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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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Neuron Structure01:30

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Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
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In Situ Visualization of Axon Growth and Growth Cone Dynamics in Acute Ex Vivo Embryonic Brain Slice Cultures
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Structural Perspectives on Axon Guidance.

Elena Seiradake1, E Yvonne Jones2, Rüdiger Klein3,4

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom;

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|August 31, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Axon guidance involves complex receptor-ligand interactions. Structural insights reveal how these molecular mechanisms guide nerve cell development through specific binding and cross-talk.

Keywords:
FLRTephrinmorphogennetrinsemaphorinslit

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Axon guidance is crucial for nervous system development.
  • It relies on a combinatorial code of receptor and ligand interactions.
  • Recent structural data illuminate these molecular mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss structure/function relationships of major guidance cues.
  • To highlight molecular mechanisms governing axon guidance.
  • To explore cross-talk between signaling systems.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent structural data on guidance cues.
  • Analysis of structure-function relationships.
  • Discussion of receptor-ligand binding and cross-talk.

Main Results:

  • Detailed structure/function of ephrins, semaphorins, slits, and netrins.
  • Insights into morphogens (Wnt, Shh) and cell adhesion molecules (FLRT).
  • Demonstration of selective binding sites and receptor promiscuity.

Conclusions:

  • Nervous system development depends on finely tuned cellular behavior.
  • Context-dependent structural assemblies dictate axon guidance.
  • Molecular interactions and cross-talk are key to neural development.