Mechanical Force Underlying Neuronal Shape and Growth

哺乳动物的神经系统类似于电线 一个向身体各部分发送信息的系统。 轴突是 神经元的一条特别长的“电线”延伸， 传导神经系统中产生的电信号。 虽然还不完全清楚轴突是如何到达目标的， 已知轴突扩张是由于 它的前端，生长锥。 随着生长锥慢慢移动 在身体周围，轴突从后面延伸。 丝状 蛋白质的细胞质，肌动蛋白，微管，和中介 细丝构成了细胞的动态骨架结构， 是轴突伸长能力的基础 本研究 该项目将重点描述的动力， 板形生长锥 机械张力预计将 调节轴突伸长过程中的细胞骨架。 这些想法 是由热力学的考虑，建议支持 长丝的组装受到机械力的影响。 的 机械张力和其他两个已知的 轴突伸长刺激剂;神经生长因子和 将研究电场以确定是否 生长信号通过张力传播或独立作用。 在这些研究中，主要研究者 将研究微管的组装过程中， 轴突起始，并确定哪些化学物质负责 通过使用张力测量来测量生长锥的运动性 方法. 这些细胞力学研究将提供新的 对神经系统轴突发育的认识 系统

The mammalian nervous system is analogous to an electrical wiring system that sends messages to all parts of the body. The axon is an exceptionally long "electric wire" extension of the neuron and conducts the electrical signals generated in the nervous system. Though it is not fully understood how axons reach their targets, it is known that axons expand as a result of the slow movement of its front end, the growth cone. As the growth cone slowly moves around the body, the axon lengthens from behind. Filamentous proteins of the cytoplasm, actin, microtubules, and intermediated filaments compose a dynamic skeletal structure for cells, that underlies the ability of axons to elongate. This research project will focus on describing the motility of the lammellipodial growth cone. Mechanical tension is expected to regulate the cytoskeleton during axonal elongation. This ideas is supported by thermodynamic considerations that suggest the assemble of filaments is affected by mechanical forces. The relationship between mechanical tension and two other known stimulators of axonal elongation; nerve growth factor and electrical fields will be investigated to determine whether growth signals transduce through tension or act independently. In conjunction with these studies, the Principal investigator will study the assembly of microtubules during the process of axonal initiation and ascertain what chemicals are responsible for the motility of growth cones by using tension measuring methods. These cytomechanical investigations will provide new insight in understanding axonal development in the nervous system.