Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER FIVE
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 in
Axon Growth and Regeneration
Tao Ye, Amy K.Y. Fu, Nancy Y. Ip
1
Division of Life Science, Molecular Neuroscience Center and State Key Laboratory of Molecular
Neuroscience, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong,
P.R. China
1
Corresponding author: e-mail address: boip@ust.hk
Contents
1. Regulation of Axon Growth and Regeneration
92
1.1 Axon growth under normal condition
92
1.2 Injury-induced signals upon axon damage
92
1.3 Extrinsic and intrinsic determinants of axon regeneration
93
2. Cdk5 in the Control of Axon Growth and Regeneration
94
2.1 Cdk5: A multifaceted neuronal kinase
94
2.2 Transducing extracellular signals
95
2.3 Promoting cytoskeletal remodeling and axonal transport
98
2.4 Safeguarding protein translation and boycotting degradation
102
2.5 Other Cdk5-mediated mechanisms
105
3. Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives
107
Acknowledgments
110
References
110
Abstract
Injury to the central nervous system often leads to irreversible deficits because of the
failure of damaged axons to regrow and restore the functional neural circuitry. Coordi-
nated orchestration of multiple cellular processes including cytoskeletal dynamics and
gene expression are essential for both developmental and regenerative axon growth.
Recently, mounting evidence suggests that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), a neuro-
nal kinase implicated in almost all aspects of brain development and function, regulates
multiple players required for axon formation and regeneration. Indeed, Cdk5 functions
as a
kinase that maintains the axon growth ability by enabling efficient cyto-
skeletal reorganization, enhancing protein translation, reducing protein degradation,
and promoting injury-induced gene transcription. Here, we summarize the up-to-date
information on the mechanisms underlying the axon growth and regeneration after
injury.
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