Authors: Charlotte E J Clark Yaobo Liu Helen M Cooper
Publish Date: 2014/03/18
Volume: 57, Issue: 4, Pages: 366-371
Abstract
In the developing embryo nascent axons navigate towards their specific targets to establish the intricate network of axonal connections linking neurons within the mature nervous system Molecular navigational systems comprising repulsive and attractive guidance cues form chemotactic gradients along the pathway of the exploring growth cone Axonbound receptors detect these gradients and determine the trajectory of the migrating growth cone In contrast to their benevolent role in the developing nervous system repulsive guidance receptors are detrimental to the axon’s ability to regenerate after injury in the adult In this review we explore the essential and beneficial role played by the chemorepulsive Wnt receptor Ryk/Derailed in axon navigation in the embryonic nervous system the Yin function Specifically we focus on the role of Wnt5a/Rykmediated guidance in the establishment of two major axon tracts in the mammalian central nervous system the corticospinal tract and the corpus callosum Recent studies have also identified Ryk as a major suppressor of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury Thus we also discuss this opposing aspect of Ryk function in axonal regeneration where its activity is a major impediment to axon regrowth the Yang functionThis article is published under an open access license Please check the Copyright Information section for details of this license and what reuse is permitted If your intended use exceeds what is permitted by the license or if you are unable to locate the licence and reuse information please contact the Rights and Permissions team
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