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SUMMARY:Cellular mechanisms underlying self-assembly of growth cones after
  axotomy - Micha E. Spira Department of Neurobiology\, The Life Sciences I
 nstitute\, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
DTSTART:20090331T151000Z
DTEND:20090331T155500Z
UID:TALK17644@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Anna Di Pietro
DESCRIPTION:A critical step in regeneration of a transected axon is the tr
 ansformation of the cut axonal end into a motile growth cone (GC) which or
 chestrates in time and space the use of cell resources for growth processe
 s. \nUsing live confocal imaging complemented by electron microscopy\, imm
 unolabeling\, electrophysiological methods and cultured Aplysia neurons we
  analyzed the mechanisms by which axotomy activates local self-assembly pr
 ocesses that transform a cut axonal end into a competent GC. In my present
 ation I will (a) describe the cascades that orchestrate the transformation
  of a differentiated axon into a motile growth cone after axotomy. The des
 cription will include the following parameters: axotomy-induced calcium co
 ncentration gradients\, membrane seal formation\, calpain activation\, res
 tructuring of the cytoskeleton (microtubules\, actin and spectrin)\, the f
 ormation of "traps" that capture and sort vesicles and mitochondria\, and 
 fusion of vesicles with the GC's plasma membrane in support of the growth 
 process. (b) Analyze experimental results that relate improper restructuri
 ng of cytoskeletal elements at the cut axonal end to the failure to assemb
 le competent GCs by neurons with high capacity to regenerate. And finally 
 (c)\, present potential approaches to overcome the subcellular barriers th
 at impede regrowth from incompetent GCs - endbulbs. \n
LOCATION:Cripps Court\, Magdalene College
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