Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER SIX
Does Planar Cell Polarity Signaling
Steer Growth Cones?
Yimin Zou
1
Neurobiology Section, Biological Sciences Division, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla,
California, USA
1
Corresponding author: e-mail address: yzou@ucsd.edu
Contents
1. Outline of Review
142
2. PCP Signaling Components Mediate Axon Guidance
142
3. Can PCP Signaling Be Used in Motile Growth Cones?
145
4.
Is the Growth Cone Polarized?
147
5. Biochemistry and Cell Biology of PCP Signaling
149
6. Localization of Vangl2 Puncta on Filopodia Tips Suggests That PCP Signaling
May Steer Growth Cones
151
7. Are There Growth Cone
-
Growth Cone Interactions During PCP-Mediated
Turning?
152
8.
Is This Cell Polarity-Based Signaling System a General Growth Cone Steering
Mechanism?
153
9. Summary
156
References
157
Abstract
Recent studies established the role of planar cell polarity signaling in axon guidance.
Signaling mechanisms controlling the direction of axon growth are poorly understood.
The possibility that conserved and robust cell polarity signaling pathways may be
reused as a key mechanism to convey asymmetric signaling in growth cones will pro-
vide insights to solving this long-standing mystery. Insights gained from growth cones
can also shed light on general principles of cell polarity signaling. This review also dis-
cusses the possibility that this cell polarity signaling-based mechanismmay be a general
mechanism for mediating directional control by many,
if not all, axon guidance
molecules.
