Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2025
09:24
Expanding the Toolkit for In Vivo Imaging of Axonal Transport
Published on: December 23, 2021
3.3K
Fat traffic control: S-acylation in axonal transport
Amelia H Doerksen1, Nisandi N Herath1, Shaun S Sanders1
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Molecular Pharmacology
|May 11, 2025
Summary
S-acylation, a lipid modification, is crucial for regulating fast axonal transport by influencing motor proteins and cargo. Dysfunctional S-acylation contributes to neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Axonal transport is vital for neuronal function, relying on molecular motors like dynein and kinesin.
- Impairments in axonal transport are linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
- S-acylation is a lipid modification impacting protein interactions and trafficking in neurons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the regulatory role of S-acylation in fast axonal transport.
- To explore the broader impact of S-acylation on the axonal transport machinery.
- To connect perturbed S-acylation to neurological disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of established roles of S-acylation in axonal transport.
- Analysis of S-acyl-proteomic data sets.
- Integration of findings from low-throughput studies.
Main Results:
- S-acylation modulates fast axonal transport by affecting motor proteins, adaptor proteins, and cargo.
- Many proteins involved in axonal transport, including motors and adaptors, are S-acylated.
- S-acylation influences the localization and function of the motor-cargo complex.
Conclusions:
- S-acylation plays a significant regulatory role in fast axonal transport and vesicular motility.
- Perturbations in S-acylation contribute to transport deficits seen in neurological diseases.
- S-acylation is a key factor in maintaining neuronal homeostasis and function.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Neurons: The Axon
3.0K
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.
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment....
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment....
3.0K
01:32Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures
1.8K
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.
1.8K
01:24Phase II Reactions: Acetylation Reactions
135
Acetylation, a phase II biotransformation reaction, introduces an acetyl group to drugs or their metabolites. Acetyltransferase enzymes facilitate this reaction, which resembles α-amino acid conjugation due to the addition of a functional group to the drug molecule.
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
The substrates for acetylation are typically drugs or their metabolites with an amino, sulfonamide, or hydrazine functional group. Acetylation can occur at several points in the drug molecule, including primary, secondary, and...
135
01:23Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission
2.4K
Cholinergic neurotransmission involves the synthesis and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in order to transmit nerve impulses across the synapse. The process begins with the synthesis of acetyl CoA, a precursor for ACh, from ATP, acetate, and coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Choline, another vital precursor, is transported inside the neuron through choline transporters, including high-affinity choline transporter CHT1, low-affinity choline transporter CTL1, and lower-affinity choline...
2.4K
01:19Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids
126
Sulfation and α-amino acid conjugation are two critical biotransformation reactions in drug metabolism. Sulfation, a phase II biotransformation reaction, involves adding a polar sulfate group to a drug, enhancing its water solubility and promoting excretion. This process can either co-occur with or occur independently of glucuronidation. Nonmicrosomal sulfotransferase enzymes catalyze the process. The reaction involves 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate or PAPS coenzyme...
126
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
4.3K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
4.3K