Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Axonal transport of neurofilaments in normal and disease states

Axonal transport of neurofilaments in normal and disease states Neurofilaments are among the most abundant organelles in neurones. They are synthesised in cell bodies and then transported into and through axons by a process termed 'slow axonal transport' at a rate that is distinct from that driven by conventional fast motors. Several recent studies have now demonstrated that this slow rate of transport is actually the consequence of conventional fast rates of movement that are interrupted by extended pausing. At any one time, most neurofilaments are thus stationary. Accumulations of neurofilaments are a pathological feature of several human neurodegenerative diseases suggesting that neurofilament transport is disrupted in disease states. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of neurofilament transport in both normal and disease states. Increasing evidence suggests that phosphorylation of neurofilaments is a mechanism for regulating their transport properties, possibly by promoting their detachment from the motor(s). In some neurodegenerative diseases, signal transduction mechanisms involving neurofilament kinases and phosphatases may be perturbed leading to disruption of transport. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Springer Journals

Axonal transport of neurofilaments in normal and disease states

Loading next page...
 
/lp/springer-journals/axonal-transport-of-neurofilaments-in-normal-and-disease-states-j0A2fl46td

References (119)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by Birkhäuser Verlag,
Subject
Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Biomedicine general; Life Sciences, general; Biochemistry, general
ISSN
1420-682X
eISSN
1420-9071
DOI
10.1007/s00018-002-8425-7
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Neurofilaments are among the most abundant organelles in neurones. They are synthesised in cell bodies and then transported into and through axons by a process termed 'slow axonal transport' at a rate that is distinct from that driven by conventional fast motors. Several recent studies have now demonstrated that this slow rate of transport is actually the consequence of conventional fast rates of movement that are interrupted by extended pausing. At any one time, most neurofilaments are thus stationary. Accumulations of neurofilaments are a pathological feature of several human neurodegenerative diseases suggesting that neurofilament transport is disrupted in disease states. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of neurofilament transport in both normal and disease states. Increasing evidence suggests that phosphorylation of neurofilaments is a mechanism for regulating their transport properties, possibly by promoting their detachment from the motor(s). In some neurodegenerative diseases, signal transduction mechanisms involving neurofilament kinases and phosphatases may be perturbed leading to disruption of transport.

Journal

Cellular and Molecular Life SciencesSpringer Journals

Published: Apr 30, 2014

There are no references for this article.