The formation of axon collateral branches from the pre-existing shafts of axons is an important aspect of neurodevelopment and the response of the nervous system to injury. This article provides an overview of the role of the cytoskeleton and signaling mechanisms in the formation of axon collateral branches. Both the actin filament and microtubule components of the cytoskeleton are required for the formation of axon branches. Recent work has begun to shed light on how these two elements of the cytoskeleton are integrated by proteins that functionally or physically link the cytoskeleton. While a number of signaling pathways have been determined as having a role in the formation of axon branches, the complexity of the downstream mechanisms and links to specific signaling pathways remain to be fully determined. The regulation of intra-axonal protein synthesis and organelle function are also emerging as components of signal-induced axon branching. Although much has been learned in the last couple of decades about the mechanistic basis of axon branching we can look forward to continue elucidating this complex biological phenomenon with the aim of understanding how multiple signaling pathways, cytoskeletal regulators and organelles are coordinated locally along the axon to give rise to a branch.

从先前存在的轴突轴形成轴突侧支分支是神经发育和神经系统对损伤的反应的重要方面。本文提供了在轴突侧支分支形成中细胞骨架和信号传导机制的作用的概述。肌动蛋白丝和细胞骨架的微管组件都需要形成轴突分支。最近的工作已开始阐明在功能上或物理上连接细胞骨架的蛋白质如何整合细胞骨架的这两个元素。虽然已经确定许多信号传导途径在轴突分支的形成中起作用，但是下游机制的复杂性以及与特定信号传导途径的联系仍有待完全确定。轴突内蛋白质合成和细胞器功能的调节也作为信号诱导的轴突分支的组成部分而出现。尽管在过去的几十年中已经了解到许多有关轴突分支机制的知识，但我们仍可以期待继续阐明这一复杂的生物学现象，以期了解多种信号传导途径，细胞骨架调节剂和细胞器如何沿着轴突局部协调。产生一个分支。