I've been looking through Regulatory mechanisms underlying the differential growth of dendrites and axons
The main gist is that certain molecules enhance neurite growth, others block it, and there is a second pair of categories that stimulate dendrite growth while restricting axon growth or vice versa. These are called differential regulators.
I'm very surprised that although I have spent weeks digging into the subject, practically everything in this paper seems new. Previously I learned that VPA/Ibuprofen interrupt the RhoA/ROCK signalling chain that inhibits the axon (and dendrite?) growthcone.
In the above paper, Sema3A is mentioned: "Sema3A promotes dendritic growth but restricts axonal growth..."
And it turns out RhoA activates Sema3A (Local translation of RhoA regulates growth cone collapse)
Ok, good, one connection has been made!
However, I'm currently experiencing information overload -- to demonstrate, here are my currently open browser tabs:
(2014) Proteomic identification of the molecular basis of mammalian CNS growth cones <-- this one contains the most intricately detailed diagram of the growthcone I have ever seen
that last one is interesting, it talks about CRMP2 stimulates dendrite growth, CRMP5 inhibits CRMP2 from functioning. So scanning pubmed for CRMP2 gives a few hits as well (below)
(2014) Regulatory mechanisms underlying the differential growth of dendrites and axons <-- differential regulators. "Recent studies have uncovered two distinct types of regulatory mechanisms that differentiate dendritic and axonal growth: dedicated mechanisms and bimodal mechanisms. Dedicated mechanisms regulate either dendritespecific or axon-specific growth; in contrast, bimodal mechanisms direct dendritic and axonal development in opposite manners."
Evidence for the Role of MAP1B in Axon Formation
CRMP2 pubmed hits:
CRMP2: Functional Roles in Neural Development and Therapeutic Potential in Neurological Diseases
Identification of a dithiol-disulfide switch in collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) that is toggled in a model of neuronal differentiation
CNP/cGMP signaling regulates axon branching and growth by modulating microtubule polymerization
Localized role of CRMP1 and CRMP2 in neurite outgrowth and growth cone steering
Preconditioning with Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761®) provides neuroprotection through HO1 and CRMP2
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It would be really helpful to have some kind of a roadmap here, some giant chart showing how everything connects. I've never heard of such a thing -- I wonder if it even exists.
A few of those papers near the end mention known noots like Curcumin, Gingko. It would be very nice to be able to place existing drugs/noots on such a chart.
Finally, the picture I am getting (mainly from that first paper) is that there are a number of different regulators, and the brain is able to use this to design different regions in different ways. For example, the part dedicated to focusing the eyes on an object can be finalised and etched within a few months, whereas the part dedicated to 3D sound localisation must be kept plastic throughout life (different air temperature means different spatial cues).
I'm hoping that gradually I will start to make sense of all this information; if anyone else is interested in this jigsaw, please do contribute!
π