growth cone

Definition

Target type: cellularcomponent

The migrating motile tip of a growing neuron projection, where actin accumulates, and the actin cytoskeleton is the most dynamic. [GOC:aruk, GOC:bc, ISBN:0815316194, PMID:10082468]

The growth cone, the dynamic tip of a growing axon, is a highly specialized cellular structure responsible for navigating through the environment and establishing neuronal connections. Its complex cellular organization plays a crucial role in mediating growth cone guidance and synapse formation. The key cellular components of a growth cone include:\\n\\n1. **Lamellipodia and Filopodia:** These thin, sheet-like (lamellipodia) and finger-like (filopodia) protrusions extend from the growth cone periphery, constantly exploring the surrounding environment. They are rich in actin filaments, providing the dynamic structure and motility for sensing and responding to guidance cues.\\n\\n2. **Microtubules:** These long, rigid polymers of tubulin extend from the axon shaft into the growth cone, acting as a scaffold for the transport of organelles and proteins. Microtubules are also involved in organizing the growth cone cytoskeleton and maintaining its overall structure.\\n\\n3. **Actin Filaments:** Actin filaments are highly concentrated in the lamellipodia and filopodia, forming a dynamic network that drives the protrusion and retraction of these structures. They also interact with other cytoskeletal elements, such as microtubules, to regulate growth cone motility and guidance.\\n\\n4. **Intermediate Filaments:** While less prominent than actin and microtubules, intermediate filaments provide structural support to the growth cone, helping to maintain its shape and integrity.\\n\\n5. **Endoplasmic Reticulum:** This network of membranes plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and calcium signaling. It extends into the growth cone, supplying the necessary components for growth and guidance.\\n\\n6. **Golgi Apparatus:** The Golgi apparatus is responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins destined for secretion or delivery to other cellular compartments. In the growth cone, it helps to assemble and deliver essential components involved in growth and guidance.\\n\\n7. **Mitochondria:** These organelles provide the energy needed for the growth cone's dynamic activities, including cytoskeletal rearrangements, signaling pathways, and vesicle trafficking.\\n\\n8. **Vesicles:** Small membrane-bound sacs containing various molecules, such as neurotransmitters, adhesion molecules, and signaling proteins, are transported throughout the growth cone. These vesicles play critical roles in communication, adhesion, and synapse formation.\\n\\n9. **Receptor Proteins:** Located on the plasma membrane of the growth cone, these proteins bind to guidance cues in the environment, initiating signaling cascades that ultimately control growth cone behavior.\\n\\n10. **Signaling Molecules:** A variety of signaling molecules, including calcium ions, cAMP, and various kinases and phosphatases, are involved in regulating growth cone function. These molecules mediate the intracellular responses to guidance cues, ultimately controlling growth cone direction, speed, and branching.\\n\\nThe precise composition and organization of these cellular components can vary depending on the type of neuron, its developmental stage, and the specific guidance cues it encounters. However, the intricate interplay of these components ensures the efficient and dynamic navigation of the growth cone as it establishes critical connections in the nervous system.'
"

Proteins (29)

Compounds (1,514)