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Sliding of centrosome-unattached microtubules defines key features of neuronal phenotype
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Sliding of centrosome-unattached microtubules defines key features of neuronal phenotype

Anand N Rao, Aditi Falnikar, Eileen T O'Toole, Mary K Morphew, Andreas Hoenger, Michael W Davidson, Xiaobing Yuan and Peter W Baas
The Journal of cell biology, v 213(3), pp 329-341
09 May 2016
PMID: 27138250
url
https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201506140View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Microscopy, Electron, Transmission Microtubule-Associated Proteins - genetics Cytoskeletal Proteins - genetics Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism Rats Nuclear Proteins - metabolism Cell Movement - physiology Centrosome - metabolism Microtubule-Associated Proteins - physiology Centrosome - ultrastructure Microtubules - metabolism Phenotype Animals Neurons - ultrastructure RNA Interference Microtubules - ultrastructure Neurons - physiology Cytoskeletal Proteins - metabolism Neurons - metabolism Nuclear Proteins - physiology Cytoskeletal Proteins - physiology Nuclear Proteins - genetics
Contemporary models for neuronal migration are grounded in the view that virtually all functionally relevant microtubules (MTs) in migrating neurons are attached to the centrosome, which occupies a position between the nucleus and a short leading process. It is assumed that MTs do not undergo independent movements but rather transduce forces that enable movements of the centrosome and nucleus. The present results demonstrate that although this is mostly true, a small fraction of the MTs are centrosome-unattached, and this permits limited sliding of MTs. When this sliding is pharmacologically inhibited, the leading process becomes shorter, migration of the neuron deviates from its normal path, and the MTs within the leading process become buckled. Partial depletion of ninein, a protein that attaches MTs to the centrosome, leads to greater numbers of centrosome-unattached MTs as well as greater sliding of MTs. Concomitantly, the soma becomes less mobile and the leading process acquires an elongated morphology akin to an axon.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Cell Biology
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