Protein kinase A (PKA) controls major aspects of neurite outgrowth and morphogenesis and plays an essential role in synaptic plasticity and memory. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of PKA action on neurite sprouting and activity are still unknown. Here, we report that in response to neurotrophin or cAMP stimulation the RING ligase praja2 ubiquitinates and degrades NOGO-A, a major inhibitor o...

Extension of axonal and dendritic processes in the CNS is tightly regulated by outgrowth-promoting and -inhibitory cues to assure precision of synaptic connections. We identify a novel role for contactin-associated protein (Caspr) as an inhibitory cue that reduces neurite outgrowth from CNS neurons. We show that proteolysis of Caspr at the cell surface is regulated by the cellular form of prion...

Neurite outgrowth is known as a slow (days) process occurring in nerve cells and neurons during neurotrophin treatment and upon transfer to culture, respectively. Using Y27632, a drug that induces activation of Rac1, a downstream step of the neurotrophin signaling cascade, we have identified a new form of outgrowth, which is rapid (<1 hour) and extensive (>500 microm(2) surface enlargement/sing...

The cAMP response element-binding (CREB) protein is a member of the CREB/activating transcription factor family that is activated by various extracellular stimuli. It has been shown that CREB-dependent transcription stimulation plays a key role in neuronal differentiation and plasticity, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Here, we show that Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a d...

Three-dimensional neurite outgrowth rates within fibrin matrices that contained variable amounts of RGD peptides were shown to depend on adhesion site density and affinity. Bi-domain peptides with a factor XIIIa substrate in one domain and a RGD sequence in the other domain were covalently incorporated into fibrin gels during coagulation through the action of the transglutaminase factor XIIIa, ...

In the embryonic stage, cells divide and migrate to achieve differentiation. Neurite outgrowth is involved in forming precise neuronal networks in neuronal differentiation, and can be mimicked in vitro using specific reagents. For instance, nerve growth factor (NGF), which was identified by Levi-Montalcini and Booker, strongly promotes neurite outgrowth in cells from the peripheral nervous syst...

Recent studies have suggested that the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attached protein (SNAP) receptor (SNARE)-mediated membrane fusion system is involved in vesicle fusion with the surface plasma membrane, which leads to neurite elongation. There have been several reports analyzing the effects of neurite outgrowth by inhibition of SNAREs. We studied this mechanism by overexpressing ...

Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) are involved in signaling of axon guidance and neurite outgrowth during neural development and regeneration. Among these, CRMP2 has been identified as an important actor in neuronal polarity and axon outgrowth, these activities being correlated with the reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins. In contrast, the function of CRMP5, expressed during brai...

The innate biological response to peripheral nerve injury involves a complex interplay of multiple molecular cues to guide neurites across the injury gap. Many current strategies to stimulate regeneration take inspiration from this biological response. However, little is known about the balance of cell-matrix and Schwann cell-neurite dynamics required for regeneration of neural architectures. W...

Chemicals that specifically inhibit human neurite outgrowth pose a hazard to the developing nervous system. Identifying such chemicals remains a major challenge in biological research. In response to the need for more efficient methods to identify potential developmental neurotoxicants, an image processing framework is presented that allows to automatically quantify neurite growth in LUHMES hum...