Neuronal Microtubule Organization. The role of microtubule associated proteins during neuronal development

Abstract

The human brain is the most complicated organ, that processes the information from the sensory organs, forms memories and controls motor functions. Neurons are the fundamental units of the brain. These highly specialized cells are connected via synapses. There are 100 billion neurons in the human brain that form the enormous complexity. To understand how the brain works, it is essential to study the fundamental units, the neurons. Neurons are highly polarized cells and critically rely on their cytoskeletal filaments to acquire and maintain their specialized morphology and functions. Microtubules are the major cytoskeletal components of neurons and they are important for neurodevelopment from differentiation, migration and development to synapses connection. They serve as tracks for long distance transport, support neuronal morphology, and control local signaling events. In neurons, microtubules are organized into a specialized architecture. Neurons express abundant microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). It is becoming clear that MAPs are critical for the establishment and maintenance of the microtubule architecture. To date, our understanding on MAPs and their function is still quite limited, and it is what we aim to explore in this thesis.