Actin Cytoskeleton in Growth Cones, Nerve Terminals, and Dendritic Spines

Filamentous actin is thought to play key roles in both the organization and the function of a diverse set of neuronal structures. During early brain development, actin is concentrated in growth cones located at the tips of growing neurites. The organization and control of actin dynamics within growth cones are thought to play key roles in neuronal migration and axonal pathfinding. At a later stage of development, filamentous actin is highly enriched in dendritic spines, controlling their shape and stability. At the same time, in nerve terminals, a smaller amount of actin is mainly concentrated around synaptic vesicles, playing primarily a scaffolding role in mammalian central synapses.