Neurite branching is associated with mixed microtubule polarity in sea anemone neurons.

ABSTRACT: Bilaterian animals can make polarized neurons with functionally distinct dendrites and axons. A central aspect of this polarity is different arrangements of microtubules; axons have plus-end-out microtubules, whereas dendrites contain minus-end-out microtubules, allowing different sets of proteins and organelles to be trafficked to each. In cnidarians, neurons with multiple plus-end-out axon-like neurites have been described. To determine whether neurons with axo-dendritic polarity might exist in cnidarians, we surveyed neurons in the model sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Microtubule polarity was assessed in mosaic animals expressing EB1-GFP, which binds to growing microtubule plus ends. Neurons were separated into general groups based on morphology. Neurons without any branching had p

SUBMITTER: Stone MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12461691 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature