Molecular determinants of dendrite and spine development
Molecular determinants of dendrite and spine development
Information processing in neurons is critically dependent on dendritic morphology. The overall extent and orientation of dendrites determines the kinds of input a neuron receives. Fine dendritic appendages called spines act as subcellular compartments devoted to processing synaptic information, and the dendritic branching pattern determines the efficacy with which synaptic information is transmitted to the soma. The development of the dendritic tree is influenced by a number of factors. Studies in Drosophila have identified key components of the genetic program that regulates dendritic morphogenesis. Parallel studies in vertebrates have revealed that extracellular signals and neuronal activity exert a major influence on the growth and branching of dendrites and the formation of dendritic spines. The identification of genes that mediate these processes is providing important insight into the molecular mechanisms of dendritic morphogenesis.
Keywords: dendritic morphology, dendritic spines, synaptic information, subcellular compartments, genetic program, spine development
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