Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-48210
J Cell Sci 2013 Mar 01;126Pt 5:1122-33. doi: 10.1242/jcs.112607.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

PAK-PIX interactions regulate adhesion dynamics and membrane protrusion to control neurite outgrowth.

Santiago-Medina M , Gregus KA , Gomez TM .


???displayArticle.abstract???
The roles of P21-activated kinase (PAK) in the regulation of axon outgrowth downstream of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are poorly understood. Here we show that PAK1-3 and PIX are expressed in the developing spinal cord and differentially localize to point contacts and filopodial tips within motile growth cones. Using a specific interfering peptide called PAK18, we found that axon outgrowth is robustly stimulated on laminin by partial inhibition of PAK-PIX interactions and PAK function, whereas complete inhibition of PAK function stalls axon outgrowth. Furthermore, modest inhibition of PAK-PIX stimulates the assembly and turnover of growth cone point contacts, whereas strong inhibition over-stabilizes adhesions. Point mutations within PAK confirm the importance of PIX binding. Together our data suggest that regulation of PAK-PIX interactions in growth cones controls neurite outgrowth by influencing the activity of several important mediators of actin filament polymerization and retrograde flow, as well as integrin-dependent adhesion to laminin.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 23321640
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC3635460
???displayArticle.link??? J Cell Sci
???displayArticle.grants??? [+]

Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: actl6a cdkn1a nsg1 pak1

References [+] :
Aizawa, Phosphorylation of cofilin by LIM-kinase is necessary for semaphorin 3A-induced growth cone collapse. 2001, Pubmed