Microtubules (MTs) are a fundamental cytoskeletal component that give neurons structure and are the primary polymer system for long distance transport of cargo throughout the cytoplasm. Although neurons are highly polarized and their structure is often maintained throughout the life of an organism, MTs can remain dynamic in axons and dendrites, undergoing bouts of polymerization and depolymerization, referred to as dynamic instability. Furthermore, MTs can be nucleated outside of the centrosome or MT organizing center (MTOC) that is located in the cell body, allowing dynamic formation and branching of MT polymers throughout the neuron. Together, these recent findings point to a much more dynamic landscape of microtubules in developing and mature neurons than was previously appreciated. Here we will focus on recent studies that show MT dynamics are playing a role at the synapse, both post-synaptically in dendrites and pre-synaptically in axons.

中文翻译：

---

突触处的动态微管。

微管 (MT) 是构成神经元结构的基本细胞骨架成分，并且是在整个细胞质中长距离运输货物的主要聚合物系统。尽管神经元高度极化并且它们的结构通常在生物体的整个生命周期中保持不变，但 MT 可以在轴突和树突中保持动态，经历聚合和解聚的回合，称为动态不稳定性。此外，MTs 可以在位于细胞体中的中心体或 MT 组织中心 (MTOC) 外成核，从而允许 MT 聚合物在整个神经元中动态形成和分支。总之，这些最近的发现表明发育中和成熟神经元中微管的动态景观比以前认为的要多得多。