Cytoskeletal Remodeling in the Establishment of the Neuronal Circuitry

The stereotyped circuitry of the adult nervous system is a result of instructive guidance of the neuronal processes to their respective synaptic targets. Signal-induced, choreographed remodeling of the cytoskeleton in the neuronal growth cones is at the core of this remarkable feat of establishing precise connectivity. Actin and microtubule cytoskeltons undergo dynamic reorganization in response to guidance cues and enable the growth cone to navigate accurately through the complex environment of the developing embryo. In this review we discuss the key principles of cytoskeleton regulation in the process of growth cone-driven motility and pathfi nding, primarily focusing on the actin and microtubule polymer systems.