Role of Usp9X in the Regulation of Axon Specification and Growth

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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Wood, Stephen
Other Supervisors
Mellick, Geroge
Year published
2015
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Neurons are the core functional cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are highly polarized with an axon and multiple dendrites, which are critical for the directional transfer of information in the CNS. The axon is the specialised region of the neuron which propagates the signal and forms neural circuits. Improper axon formation and migration can lead to various neurocognitive diseases such as epilepsy and X-linked intellectual disability. Axon formation occurs over three main phases: axon specification, growth and maturation. Axon specification and elongation have been linked to a range of neuronal signalling ...
View more >Neurons are the core functional cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are highly polarized with an axon and multiple dendrites, which are critical for the directional transfer of information in the CNS. The axon is the specialised region of the neuron which propagates the signal and forms neural circuits. Improper axon formation and migration can lead to various neurocognitive diseases such as epilepsy and X-linked intellectual disability. Axon formation occurs over three main phases: axon specification, growth and maturation. Axon specification and elongation have been linked to a range of neuronal signalling pathways, kinases and polarity proteins, which are the main regulators of microtubule and actin dynamics. Several studies have shown that the substrate-specific de-ubiquitylating enzyme, Ubiquitin-specific protease located on the X chromosome (Usp9X) plays important roles in the formation and growth of neurons. Three pathological variants of Usp9X, which associate with X-linked intellectual disability, disrupt axonal growth and migration. To examine the role of Usp9X in axon formation and identify the molecular mechanism involved, cultured hippocampal neurons isolated from a brain-specific Usp9X conditional knockout mouse were used. The hippocampi were dissected out at embryonic day 18.5 and neurons were cultured up to 5 days to address the aims of the present studies.
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View more >Neurons are the core functional cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are highly polarized with an axon and multiple dendrites, which are critical for the directional transfer of information in the CNS. The axon is the specialised region of the neuron which propagates the signal and forms neural circuits. Improper axon formation and migration can lead to various neurocognitive diseases such as epilepsy and X-linked intellectual disability. Axon formation occurs over three main phases: axon specification, growth and maturation. Axon specification and elongation have been linked to a range of neuronal signalling pathways, kinases and polarity proteins, which are the main regulators of microtubule and actin dynamics. Several studies have shown that the substrate-specific de-ubiquitylating enzyme, Ubiquitin-specific protease located on the X chromosome (Usp9X) plays important roles in the formation and growth of neurons. Three pathological variants of Usp9X, which associate with X-linked intellectual disability, disrupt axonal growth and migration. To examine the role of Usp9X in axon formation and identify the molecular mechanism involved, cultured hippocampal neurons isolated from a brain-specific Usp9X conditional knockout mouse were used. The hippocampi were dissected out at embryonic day 18.5 and neurons were cultured up to 5 days to address the aims of the present studies.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Subject
Neurons
Central Nervous System (CNS).
X chromosome (Usp9X)
Axonal specification