The locomotion of the nerve growth cone during development or regeneration is thought to be important for steering a growing neurite down the correct pathway to its target. This process is essential for normal development or functional recovery aftter nerve damage. Nerve growth cone locomotion is a complex phenomenon which has been best studied in cell culture. To understand the underlyng mechanism responsible for nerve growth cone locomotion, a multidisciplinary approach will be taken. Rat superior cervical ganglion neurons grown in cell culture will be used. Working under the assumption that actin and myosin are involved in growth cone motility, immunoelectron microscopy will seek to determine the molecular organization of growth cone myosin and actin. Microinjection of monoclonal antibodies to myosin will be used to determine the role of myosin in the production of contractile tension that moves the growth cone across a substratum. Fluorescence ratio imaging of growth cone calcium using the specific indicator fura-2 will then be done to determine the role calcium plays in the control of the moility mechanism. These experiments will provide a basic framework for understanding the mechanism of guided locomotion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS026150-04
Application #
3411831
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 2 (NEUB)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1991-04-01
Budget End
1992-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Brown, Jacquelyn A; Wysolmerski, Robert B; Bridgman, Paul C (2009) Dorsal root ganglion neurons react to semaphorin 3A application through a biphasic response that requires multiple myosin II isoforms. Mol Biol Cell 20:1167-79
Kollins, K M; Hu, J; Bridgman, P C et al. (2009) Myosin-II negatively regulates minor process extension and the temporal development of neuronal polarity. Dev Neurobiol 69:279-98
Brown, Jacquelyn A; Bridgman, Paul C (2009) Disruption of the cytoskeleton during Semaphorin 3A induced growth cone collapse correlates with differences in actin organization and associated binding proteins. Dev Neurobiol 69:633-46
Goeckeler, Zoe M; Bridgman, Paul C; Wysolmerski, Robert B (2008) Nonmuscle myosin II is responsible for maintaining endothelial cell basal tone and stress fiber integrity. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 295:C994-1006
Turney, Stephen G; Bridgman, Paul C (2005) Laminin stimulates and guides axonal outgrowth via growth cone myosin II activity. Nat Neurosci 8:717-9
Young, Michael E; Cooper, John A; Bridgman, Paul C (2004) Yeast actin patches are networks of branched actin filaments. J Cell Biol 166:629-35
Bridgman, Paul C (2004) Myosin-dependent transport in neurons. J Neurobiol 58:164-74
Brown, Michael E; Bridgman, Paul C (2003) Retrograde flow rate is increased in growth cones from myosin IIB knockout mice. J Cell Sci 116:1087-94
Bridgman, Paul C; Brown, Michael E; Balan, Irina (2003) Biolistic transfection. Methods Cell Biol 71:353-68
Bridgman, Paul C (2002) Growth cones contain myosin II bipolar filament arrays. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 52:91-6

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