Spatial Organization of Axonal Microtubules

海德曼博士建议收集与微管组织和神经元生长相关的两个领域的初步信息。他建议研究一种工作假说，即通过前进的生长锥体控制微管组装。在这个模型中，轴突的张力是神经元基于肌动蛋白的细胞骨架内张力的结果。这种张力由内部微管和培养底物支撑，两者都处于压缩状态。在结构上，这种安排类似于巴克明斯特·富勒几年前提出的张拉整体建筑原则。特别重要的是，热力学的考虑导致了对MT的压缩可以调节MT的伸长，从而为MT组装与生长锥运动的集成提供了一种经济的方法。其中三个具体目标是研究微管在将培养的神经元异常清晰地划分为细胞体、轴突和生长锥室中的作用。这些隔室在细胞骨架和细胞表面/细胞皮质活动方面有所不同。这个实验室和其他实验室的结果表明，微管可能调节细胞皮质的活动。

Dr. Heidemann proposes to gather preliminary information about two areas related to microtubule organization and neuronal growth. He proposes investigations of a working hypothesis for control of microtubule assembly by the advancing growth cone. In this model, tension of the neurite is the result of tension within the actin-based cytoskeleton of the neuron. This tension is supported by internal microtubules and by the culture substratum, placing both under compression. Structurally, this arrangement is similar to the architectural principle of tensegrity developed some years ago by Buckminster Fuller. Of particular importance, thermodynamic considerations lead to the result that compression on MTs may regulate MT elongation and thus provide an economical method for integrating MT assembly with growth cone movement. Three of the specific goals are an investigation of the role of microtubules in the unusually clear regionalization of cultured neurons into cell body, neurite and growth cone compartments. These compartments differ in their cytoskeleton and in their cell surface/cell cortex activity. Results in this and other laboratories suggest microtubules may regulate the activity of the cell cortex.