A neurite refers to any projection from the cell body of a neuron. The term is frequently used to describe projections on immature or developing neurons, especially of cells in culture, as it can be difficult to tell if a projection will develop into an axon or a dendrite until differentiation is complete[1].
Neurite Development
editThe development of a neurite requires a complex interplay of both extracellular and intracellular signals. At every given point along a developing neurite, there are receptors detecting both positive and negative growth cues from every direction in the surrounding space [2]. The developing neurite sums together all of these growth signals in order to determine which direction the neurite will ultimately grow towards[2]. While not all of the growth signals are known, several have been identified and characterized. Among the known extracellular growth signals are netrin, a midline chemoattractant, and semaphorin, ephrin and collapsin, all inhibitors of neurite growth[2][3][4].
Young neurites are often packed with microtubule bundles, the growth of which is stimulated by neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF)[5]. Tau proteins can aid in the stabilization of microtubules by binding to the microtubules, protecting them from microtubule serving proteins [6]. Even after the microtubules have stabilized, the cytoskeleton of the neuron remains dynamic. Actin filaments retain their dynamic properties in the neurite that will become the axon in order to push the microtubules out to extend the axon [7]. In all other neurites however, the actin filaments are stabilized by myosin [8]. This prevents the development of multiple neurites.
The neural cell adhesion molecule N-CAM simultaneously combines with another N-CAM and a fibroblast growth factor receptor to stimulate the tyrosine kinase activity of that receptor to induce the growth of neurites[9].
There are several software kits available to facilitate neurite tracing in images (see external links)
Weak endogeneous electric fields may be used to both facilitate and direct the growth of projections from cell soma neurites, EFs of moderate strength have been used to direct and enhance neurite outgrowth in both murine and xenopus models. Co-culture of neurons with electrically aligned glial tissue also directs neurite outgrowth, as it is rich in neurotrophins that promote nerve growth[citation needed].
Establishing Polarity
editIn Vitro
editAn undifferentiated mammalian neuron placed in culture will retract any neurites that it has already grown[6]. 0.5 to 1.5 days after being plated in culture, several minor neurites will begin to protrude out from the cell body [6]. Sometime between day 1.5 and day 3, one of the minor neurites begins to grow outpace the other neurites growth significantly [6]. This neurite will eventually become the axon. On days 4-7, the remaining minor neurties will begin differentiating into dendrites [6]. By day 7, the neuron should be completely polarized, with a functional dendrites and an axon [6]. [7]
In Vivo
editAs previously stated, a neurite growing in vivo is surrounded by thousands of extracellular signals which in turn can be modulated by hundreds of intracellular pathways. It is therefore not surprising that it is not yet understood what determines neurite fate in vivo. It is known that 60% of the time the first neurite that protrudes from the cell body will become the axon [6]. 30% of the time, a neurite not destined to become the axon protrudes from the cell body first. 10% of the time, the neurite that will become the axon protrudes from the cell body simultaneously with one or more other neurites [6]. It has been proposed that a minor neurite could extend outward until it touches an already developed axon of another neuron. At this point, the neurite will begin to differentiate into an axon. This is known as the touch and go model [6]. However, this model does not explain how the first axon developed.
Whatever extracellular signals may be involved in inducing axon formation are transduced through at least 4 different pathways: the Rac-1 pathway, the Ras-mediated pathway, the cAMP-liver kinase B1 pathway, and the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase pathway [6]. A deficiency in any of these pathways would lead to the inability to develop a neuron [6][7]
Aside from just forming an axon, the neuron must prevent all other neurites from developing into axons. This is known as global inhibition [6]. It has been suggested that global inhibition is achieved by a long-range negative feedback single released from the developed axon and taken up by the other neurite [10]. However, no long range signaling molecule has been discovered [6]. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the build of axonal growth factors in the neurite destined to become the axon means there is a depletion of axonal growth factors by default, as they must compete for the same proteins [11]. This would allow for a mechanism of global inhibition without the need for a long range signaling molecule.
References
edit- ^ Flynn, Kevin C (2013-01-01). "The cytoskeleton and neurite initiation". Bioarchitecture. 3 (4): 86–109. doi:10.4161/bioa.26259. ISSN 1949-0992. PMC 4201609.
- ^ a b c Valtorta, F.; Leoni, C. (1999-02-28). "Molecular mechanisms of neurite extension". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 354 (1381): 387–394. doi:10.1098/rstb.1999.0391. ISSN 0962-8436. PMID 10212488.
- ^ Niclou, Simone P.; Franssen, Elske H. P.; Ehlert, Erich M. E.; Taniguchi, Masahiko; Verhaagen, Joost (2003-12-01). "Meningeal cell-derived semaphorin 3A inhibits neurite outgrowth". Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences. 24 (4): 902–912. ISSN 1044-7431. PMID 14697657.
- ^ Luo, Y.; Raible, D.; Raper, J. A. (1993-10-22). "Collapsin: a protein in brain that induces the collapse and paralysis of neuronal growth cones". Cell. 75 (2): 217–227. ISSN 0092-8674. PMID 8402908.
- ^ Bear, Mark F.; Connors, Barry W.; Paradiso, Michael A. (2016-01-01). Neuroscience : exploring the brain.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Takano, Tetsuya; Xu, Chundi; Funahashi, Yasuhiro; Namba, Takashi; Kaibuchi, Kozo (2015-06-15). "Neuronal polarization". Development. 142 (12): 2088–2093. doi:10.1242/dev.114454. ISSN 0950-1991. PMID 26081570.
- ^ a b c Xiao, Yangui; Peng, Yinghui; Wan, Jun; Tang, Genyun; Chen, Yuewen; Tang, Jing; Ye, Wen-Cai; Ip, Nancy Y.; Shi, Lei (2013-07-05). "The Atypical Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Dock4 Regulates Neurite Differentiation through Modulation of Rac1 GTPase and Actin Dynamics". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288 (27): 20034–20045. doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.458612. ISSN 0021-9258. PMC 3707701. PMID 23720743.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Toriyama, Michinori; Kozawa, Satoshi; Sakumura, Yuichi; Inagaki, Naoyuki (2013-03-18). "Conversion of a Signal into Forces for Axon Outgrowth through Pak1-Mediated Shootin1 Phosphorylation". Current Biology. 23 (6): 529–534. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2013.02.017.
- ^ Berezin, Vladimir (2009-12-17). Structure and Function of the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule NCAM. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781441911704.
- ^ Arimura, Nariko; Kaibuchi, Kozo (2007-03-01). "Neuronal polarity: from extracellular signals to intracellular mechanisms". Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 8 (3): 194–205. doi:10.1038/nrn2056. ISSN 1471-003X.
- ^ Inagaki, Naoyuki; Toriyama, Michinori; Sakumura, Yuichi (2011-06-01). "Systems biology of symmetry breaking during neuronal polarity formation". Developmental Neurobiology. 71 (6): 584–593. doi:10.1002/dneu.20837. ISSN 1932-846X.