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Neuronal polarization: building fences for molecular segregation

Nature Cell Biology volume 5, pages 591–594 (2003)Cite this article

Neurons exhibit distinct compositions in the axonal and dendrite plasma membrane, but it remains ambiguous whether or not a diffusion barrier is needed to keep the different components separated. Now, Nakada et al. utilize state of the art microscopy to follow the dynamics of single lipids or proteins inserted in different areas along the axonal and dendritic surface of neurons at different developmental stages. The results obtained shed new light on the mechanism underlying polarized segregation of membrane components in neurons.

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Figure 1: The progression of neuronal polarity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Vanessa Schubert for making Figure 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cavalieri Ottolenghi Scientific Institute, Universita degli Studi di Torino, A.O. San Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, 10043, (TO), Italy

    Carlos G. Dotti

  2. Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720, CA, USA

    Mu-ming Poo

Authors
  1. Carlos G. Dotti
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  2. Mu-ming Poo
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Dotti, C., Poo, Mm. Neuronal polarization: building fences for molecular segregation. Nat Cell Biol 5, 591–594 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0703-591b

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