Department of Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, United States of America.
Mol Cell Neurosci. 2020 Sep;107:103522. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103522. Epub 2020 Jul 10.
Neurons are highly polarized cells that have specialized regions for synaptic input, the dendrites, and synaptic output, the axons. This polarity is critical for appropriate neural circuit formation and function. One of the central gaps in our knowledge is understanding how developing neurons initiate axon polarity. Given the critical nature of this polarity on neural circuit formation and function, neurons have evolved multiple mechanisms comprised of extracellular and intracellular cues that allow them to initiate and form axons. These mechanisms engage a variety of signaling cascades that provide positive and negative cues to ensure axon polarization. This review highlights our current knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of axon polarization in pyramidal neurons and their relevance to the development of the brain.
神经元是高度极化的细胞，具有专门用于突触输入（树突）和突触输出（轴突）的区域。这种极性对于适当的神经回路形成和功能至关重要。我们知识中的一个核心空白是了解发育中的神经元如何启动轴突极性。鉴于这种极性对神经回路形成和功能的关键性质，神经元已经进化出多种机制，包括细胞外和细胞内线索，使它们能够启动和形成轴突。这些机制涉及多种信号级联，提供正负线索以确保轴突极性。本综述强调了我们目前对锥体神经元轴突极化的分子基础及其与大脑发育的相关性的认识。
