Spatial confinement instigates environmental determination of neuronal polarity

Abstract

Here we used patterned self-assembled monolayer (SAM) chemistry to explore the role of spatial confinement on the growth and proliferation of a developing neuron. Despite extensive previous work on the molecular mechanisms controlling these processes, classical biological approaches have not been able to clearly distinguish whether differentiation is predetermined or environmentally determined.

Neuronal Signaling Involved in Neuronal Polarization and Growth: Lipid Rafts and Phosphorylation

“…Thus, there appears to be a role for extrinsic factors in inducing polarity determination within the neuronal population. Candidates for such signals have been identified (Takano et al, 2019 ), and include extracellular matrix components such as laminin (LN), a protein that is highly abundant in the developing brain (Esch et al, 1999 ; Randlett et al, 2011 ; Johnson et al, 2012 ; Honda et al, 2017a , b ; Serjanov et al, 2018 ). LN facilitates neuronal polarity determination, as demonstrated by the ability of exogenously supplied LN to permit neurons to “skip” stage 2 of development (Honda et al, 2017a , b ).…”

Peptide and protein printing for tissue regeneration and repair

“…In neuroregenerative medicine, regeneration of neural tissue is a major research focus, as neurons capacity to self-renew and repair is limited. In this field, using printed microarrays of different proteins has been shown to guide axons [45] as well as neuron polarity [46] and outgrowth [47], and when incubated with neuronal stem cells, it has been shown to induce their differentiation [48,49]. Neuronal stem cells exposed to printed laminin arrays could differentiate into neuronal and glial cells in the absence of any soluble clues and exogenous proteins [48].…”

Advances in contact printing technologies of carbohydrate, peptide and protein arrays

“…Regeneration of neural tissue is a major research focus, as neurons capacity to self-renew and repair is limited. Using printed protein micro-arrays reports showed guiding axons [41], neuron polarity [42] and outgrowth [43]. Neural stem cells (NSCs) exposed to printed laminin arrays could differentiate into neuronal and glial cells in the absence of any soluble clues and exogeneous proteins [44].…”