SH2B1 orchestrates signaling events to filopodium formation during neurite outgrowth

Morphogenesis during development is fundamental to the differentiation of several cell types. As neurite outgrowth marks neuritogenesis, formation of filopodia precede the formation of dendrites and axons. While the structure of filopodia is well-known, the initiation of filopodia during neurite outgrowth is not clear. SH2B1 is known to promote neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, hippocampal and cortical neurons. As a signaling adaptor protein, SH2B1 interacts with several neurotrophin receptors, and regulates signaling as well as gene expression. Our recent findings suggest that SH2B1 can be recruited to the plasma membrane and F-actin fractions by IRSp53. IRSp53 bends plasma membrane and facilitates actin bundling to set the stage for filopodium formation. We further demonstrate that SH2B1-IRSp53 complexes enhance the formation of filopodia, dendrites and dendritic branches of hippocampal and cortical neurons. While the molecular mechanism underlying filopodium initiation is not clear, we propose that SH2B1-neurotrophin interacting sites may mark the putative sites of filopodium initiation.