Axon Growth And Guidance (advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology)

The complexarchitectureofneuronal networks togetherwith the extraordinary associated functions make the nervous system a fascinating biological structure. The considerable work performed to explore this cellular machinery is nowadays successfulbecause the mysteryofnervous system developmentisbeing unravelled. As described in their outstanding review published 10 years ago in Science.' Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Corey Goodman-the pioneers of the molecular era of axon guidance-summarized the assembly of nervous system connections as a subtle game of attraction and repulsion of neuronal growth cones. The cellular ballet ensuring the formation of billions of synapses, which ultimately gives rise to the highest cognitive functions, is primarily orchestrated by a step-by-step mechanism of growth driven by multiple molecular cues. While our general concept of axon guidance remains identical, a profound evolution ofour knowledge ofthe molecular identityofthe guidance cues together with their interactions and signalling pathways occurred over the past ten years. This book proposes an exhaustive and updated view ofthe current knowledge ofthe molecular and cellular mechanisms ensuring axon growth and guidance. An introductory chapterby C. Bouquetand F.Nothias will remind the readers ofall the features ofa growth cone and the mechanisms controlling its growth. From there, one enters a fabulous journey with a growth cone, a Tom Thumb story filled with molecular encounters and complex interactions leading to one ofthe most fantastic developmental achievements: the nervous system wiring. The complexarchitectureofneuronal networks togetherwith the extraordinary associated functions make the nervous system a fascinating biological structure. The considerable work performed to explore this cellular machinery is nowadays successfulbecause the mysteryofnervous system developmentisbeing unravelled. As described in their outstanding review published 10 years ago in Science.' Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Corey Goodman-the pioneers of the molecular era of axon guidance-summarized the assembly of nervous system connections as a subtle game of attraction and repulsion of neuronal growth cones. The cellular ballet ensuring the formation of billions of synapses, which ultimately gives rise to the highest cognitive functions, is primarily orchestrated by a step-by-step mechanism of growth driven by multiple molecular cues. While our general concept of axon guidance remains identical, a profound evolution ofour knowledge ofthe molecular identityofthe guidance cues together with their interactions and signalling pathways occurred over the past ten years. This book proposes an exhaustive and updated view ofthe current knowledge ofthe molecular and cellular mechanisms ensuring axon growth and guidance. An introductory chapterby C. Bouquetand F. Nothias will remind the readers ofall the features ofa growth cone and the mechanisms controlling its growth. From there, one enters a fabulous journey with a growth cone, a Tom Thumb story filled with molecular encounters and complex interactions leading to one ofthe most fantastic developmental achievements: the nervous system wiring Molecular mechanisms of axonal growth / Ce line Bouquet and Fatiha Nothias Netrins and their receptors / Simon W. Moore, Marc Tessier-Lavigne and Timothy E. Kennedy EPH receptors and ephrin ligands in axon guidance / Michael Reber, Robert Hindges, and Greg Lemke Role of semaphorins during axon growth and guidance / Eric Koncina ... [et al.] Slits and their receptors / Alain Che dotal Neurotrophic factors: are they axon guidance molecules? / Sarah Guthrie The role of cell adhesion molecules in axon growth and guidance / Hiroyuki Kamiguchi Neurotransmitters and the development of neuronal circuits / Tina Ruediger and Juergen Bolz The hedgehog, TGF-b/BMP, and Wnt families of morphogens in axon guidance / Fre de ric Charron and Marc Tessier-Lavigne The role of cyclic nucleotides in axon guidance / Michael Piper, Francis van Horck and Christine Holt Membrane lipid rafts and their role in axon guidance / Carmine Guirland and James Q. Zheng The role of glial cells in axon guidance, fasciculation, and targeting / Anabel R. Learte and Alicia Hidalgo. This book proposes an updated view of the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms ensuring axon growth and guidance. The introductory chapter will remind the readers of all the features of a growth cone and the mechanisms controlling its growth. From there, one enters a fabulous journey with a growth cone, a Tom Thumb story filled with molecular encounters and complex interactions leading to one of the most fantastic developmental achievements: the nervous system wiring. The journey starts with a description of the classical guidance signals such as the netrins, the semaphorins, the ephrins or the Slit family. The question of the exact definition of a guidance signal is addressed in a chapter which discusses whether neurotrophic factors can be considered as guidance cues. This complex question is also considered in a chapter presenting the role of adhesion molecules during axon guidance and the report of compelling evidence for a guidance effect of neurotra Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Molecular Mechanisms of Axonal Growth....Pages 1-16 Netrins and Their receptors....Pages 17-31 Eph Receptors and Ephrin Ligands in Axon Guidance....Pages 32-49 Role of Semaphorins during Axon Growth and Guidance....Pages 50-64 Slits and Their Receptors....Pages 65-80 Neurotrophic Factors: Are They Axon Guidance Molecules?....Pages 81-94 The Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Axon Growth and Guidance....Pages 95-102 Neurotransmitters and the Development of Neuronal Circuits....Pages 104-114 The Hedgehog, TGF-β/BMP and Wnt Families of Morphogens in Axon Guidance....Pages 116-133 The Role of Cyclic Nucleotides in Axon Guidance....Pages 134-143 Membrane Lipid Rafts and Their Role in Axon Guidance....Pages 144-154 The Role of Glial Cells in Axon Guidance, Fasciculation and Targeting....Pages 156-166 Back Matter....Pages 167-169

This book proposes an updated view of the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms ensuring axon growth and guidance. The introductory chapter will remind the readers of all the features of a growth cone and the mechanisms controlling its growth. From there, one enters a fabulous journey with a growth cone, a Tom Thumb story filled with molecular encounters and complex interactions leading to one of the most fantastic developmental achievements: the nervous system wiring.