Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Developmental biology

How neurons avoid derailment

Nature volume 422, pages 570–571 (2003)Cite this article

During development, neurons extend thin protrusions that must choose between alternative routes. A study of this process in fruitflies unites two previously disparate protein families.

In many ways, the developing nervous system resembles a city at rush hour, with large numbers of neurons — up to 1012 in humans — extending thin protrusions called axons that take highly specific routes to reach their destinations. This ability of axons to choose one particular path from many alternatives is essential for precise wiring of the nervous system. On page 583 of this issue, Yoshikawa and colleagues1 present the next chapter in the unfolding story of how axons find their way.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Directing axons in the developing fruitfly central nervous system.

References

  1. Yoshikawa, S., McKinnon, R. D., Kokel, M. & Thomas, J. B. Nature 422, 583–588 (2003).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bonkowsky, J. L., Yoshikawa, S., O'Keefe, D. D., Scully, A. L. & Thomas, J. B. Nature 402, 540–544 (1999).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wodarz, A. & Nusse, R. Annu. Rev. Cell. Dev. Biol. 14, 59–88 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Nusse, R. http://www.stanford.edu/~rnusse/wntwindow.html

  5. Bienz, M. & Clevers, H. Cell 103, 311–320 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hall, A. C., Lucas, F. R. & Salinas, P. C. Cell 100, 525–535 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Packard, M. et al. Cell 111, 319–330 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Halford, M. M. et al. Nature Genet. 25, 414–418 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Paul A. Garrity

Authors
  1. Paul A. Garrity
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul A. Garrity.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garrity, P. How neurons avoid derailment. Nature 422, 570–571 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/422570a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/422570a

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing