Stretch-sensitive ion channels of neuronal growth cones

This paper unifies and outlines some important points made by recent experimental work, dealing with MS ion channels and growth cone motility. The considerable work carried out in cell biology, neurochemistry and membrane biophysics in the past decade allows us to imagine the neurite growth in term of known molecules and chains of simple mechanisms. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly clear the real complexity of the growth cone behavior. There remain important gaps in our understanding of the role of MS channels in growth cone motility. At present, a major limitation for physiological work is the lack of specific blockers. An encouraging development of molecular genetic studies of Drosophila SAK channels (60) will probably provide valuable tools for straightforward experiments.