Rho GTpases and spines

TY - CHAP

T1 - Rho GTpases and spines

AU - Zhang, H.

PY - 2016/1/1

Y1 - 2016/1/1

N2 - Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on neurons that receive most of the excitatory synaptic inputs in the brain. Prior to spine formation during brain development, dendrites are covered with actin-rich, filopodia-like protrusions. These protrusions are believed to be actively searching for presynaptic partners, and once a contact is formed, the protrusion matures into a mushroom-shaped spine, which is rich in actin and essentially devoid of microtubules. Alternatively, actin-rich spines can form de novo from the dendritic shaft. Thus, the formation of spines requires extensive reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and it is likely that regulators of actin dynamics play a central role in spine development. Indeed, evidence is emerging that points to a key function for actin regulators, particularly proteins that participate in the Rho signaling pathway, in spine morphogenesis. This article focuses on the Rho GTPase signaling pathways that lead to actin reorganization and their effects on dendritic spine morphogenesis and plasticity.

AB - Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on neurons that receive most of the excitatory synaptic inputs in the brain. Prior to spine formation during brain development, dendrites are covered with actin-rich, filopodia-like protrusions. These protrusions are believed to be actively searching for presynaptic partners, and once a contact is formed, the protrusion matures into a mushroom-shaped spine, which is rich in actin and essentially devoid of microtubules. Alternatively, actin-rich spines can form de novo from the dendritic shaft. Thus, the formation of spines requires extensive reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and it is likely that regulators of actin dynamics play a central role in spine development. Indeed, evidence is emerging that points to a key function for actin regulators, particularly proteins that participate in the Rho signaling pathway, in spine morphogenesis. This article focuses on the Rho GTPase signaling pathways that lead to actin reorganization and their effects on dendritic spine morphogenesis and plasticity.

KW - Actin

KW - Actin regulating proteins

KW - Cdc42

KW - Cytoskeleton

KW - GAP

KW - GEF

KW - GTPases

KW - Mental retardation

KW - Myosin

KW - Rac

KW - Rho

KW - Signal transduction

KW - Spine

KW - Synapse

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079567664&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85079567664&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.02407-X

DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.02407-X

M3 - Chapter

SP - 357

EP - 364

BT - The Curated Reference Collection in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology

PB - Elsevier Science Ltd.

ER -