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The Actin Cytoskeleton in Myelinating Cells

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Abstract

Myelinating cells of both the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNSs) undergo dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization in order to differentiate and produce myelin. Myelinating oligodendrocytes in the CNS show a periodic actin pattern, demonstrating tight regulation of actin. Furthermore, recent data demonstrate that actin polymerization drives early cell differentiation and that actin depolymerization drives myelin wrapping. Dysregulation of the actin cytoskeleton in myelinating cells is seen in some disease states. This review highlights the cytoskeletal molecules that regulate differentiation of and myelination by cells of the PNS and CNS, informing our understanding of neural development, in particular myelination.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program DGE-1553798 (TLB) and National Institute of Health RO1 #82203 (WBM). The authors thank the members of the Macklin lab for valuable discussion and feedback on this manuscript.

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  1. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Tanya L. Brown & Wendy B. Macklin

  2. Cell Biology, Stem Cells, and Development Graduate Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Tanya L. Brown

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Brown, T.L., Macklin, W.B. The Actin Cytoskeleton in Myelinating Cells. Neurochem Res 45, 684–693 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-019-02753-0

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