Dynamic modulation of membrane tension and mechanosensitive ion channel activity steers the nerve growth cone

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The precise wiring of the developing nervous system depends on the path-finding abilities of the neuronal growth cone (GC), a highly dynamic sensory structure at the tip of growing axons. Growth cone turning is a fundamental behavior during axon guidance, yet its underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. The GC membrane contains mechanosensitive ion channels (MSC) that are proposed to sense changes in membrane tension and transduce these changes into electrical signals. The objective of this program is to understand how the GC cytoskeleton, membrane tension, and the activity of mechanosensitive ion channels interact together to steer the growth cone.