A new chemotaxis assay shows the extreme sensitivity of axons to molecular gradients
A new chemotaxis assay shows the extreme sensitivity of axons to molecular gradients
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DOI：
10.1038/nn1259
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发表时间：
2004-06-01
影响因子：
25
通讯作者：
Goodhill, GJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rosoff, WJ;Urbach, JS;Goodhill, GJ
轴突趋化性被认为在连接发育和再生的神经系统方面很重要，但关于轴突实际上是如何对分子梯度做出反应的知之甚少。我们报告了一种新的定量分析方法，它允许在三维凝胶中检测轴突对已知和可控形状的梯度的长期反应。使用这种分析方法，我们发现轴突可能是自然界中最敏感的梯度探测器，但这种灵敏度只存在于很小的配体浓度范围内。这种方法也应该适用于其他受分子梯度控制的生物过程，如细胞迁移和形态发生。
Axonal chemotaxis is believed to be important in wiring up the developing and regenerating nervous system, but little is known about how axons actually respond to molecular gradients. We report a new quantitative assay that allows the long-term response of axons to gradients of known and controllable shape to be examined in a three-dimensional gel. Using this assay, we show that axons may be nature's most-sensitive gradient detectors, but this sensitivity exists only within a narrow range of ligand concentrations. This assay should also be applicable to other biological processes that are controlled by molecular gradients, such as cell migration and morphogenesis.