Whole cell responses are complex because they involve many subcellular processes (SCPs) that need to function in a coordinated manner. Detailed understanding of how different SCPs function in a coordinated manner to produce an integrated whole cell response requires mathematical models that capture the dynamics of the individual SCPs as well as the interrelationship between the dynamics of mult...

Neurons of the CNS and PNS differ in their response to fibronectin (FN) and proteolytic fragments of FN. The 33 kDa C-terminal cell and heparin-binding fragment of FN, in particular, is a strong promoter of CNS neurite outgrowth. To define further the neurite-promoting activity of the 33 kDa fragment, and to investigate further the differences between PNS and CNS responses to FN and the 33 kDa ...

I have compared central nervous system (CNS) neurite outgrowth on glial and nonglial cells. Monolayers of glial cells (astrocytes and Schwann cells) or nonglial cells (e.g., fibroblasts) were prepared and were shown to be greater than 95% pure as judged by cell type-specific markers. These monolayers were then tested for their ability to support neurite outgrowth from various CNS explants. Whil...

IgLON proteins are GPI anchored adhesion molecules that control neurite outgrowth. In particular, Negr1 down-regulation negatively influences neuronal arborization in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we found that the metalloprotease ADAM10 releases Negr1 from neuronal membrane. Ectodomain shedding influences several neuronal mechanisms, including survival, synaptogenesis, and the forma...

Neurite outgrowth and its maintenance are essential aspects of neuronal cells for their connectivity and communication with other neurons. Recent studies showed that over-expression of either leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), whose mutations are associated with familial Parkinson's disease (PD), or Rab5b, an early endosomal marker protein, induces reduction in neurite length. Based on our r...

Neurite outgrowth in response to soluble growth factors often involves changes in intracellular Ca(2+); however, mechanistic roles for Ca(2+) in controlling the underlying dynamic cytoskeletal processes have remained enigmatic. Bag cell neurons exposed to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) respond with a threefold increase in neurite outgrowth rates. Outgrowth depends on phospholipase C (PL...

Background: In vitro model studies are becoming increasingly popular for experimental research designs. They include isolation and expansion of cells of a particular tissue, such as the nervous tissue which contributes to understanding the underlying mechanisms in many pathologies. It enables  the scrutinization of intracellular signaling pathways responsible for cell death. OBJECTIVES: In the ...

Previously we reported that Wnt3a-dependent neurite outgrowth in Ewing sarcoma family tumor cell lines was mediated by Frizzled3, Dishevelled (Dvl), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (Endo, Y., Beauchamp, E., Woods, D., Taylor, W. G., Toretsky, J. A., Uren, A., and Rubin, J. S. (2008) Mol. Cell. Biol. 28, 2368-2379). Subsequently, we observed that Dvl2/3 phosphorylation correlated with neurite outgro...

Stimulation of the neuronal cell adhesion molecule L1 in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) enhances neurite outgrowth and this response is inhibited by the primary alcohol ethanol. Because primary alcohols suppress the formation of the signaling lipid phosphatidic acid (PA) by phospholipase D (PLD), this observation prompted us to investigate whether PLD plays a role in the L1-mediated neurite ...