Mechanisms of Node of Ranvier Assembly

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2020 Nov 26

PMID 33239761

Citations 73

Authors

Matthew N Rasband

Elior Peles

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The nodes of Ranvier have clustered Na and K channels necessary for rapid and efficient axonal action potential conduction. However, detailed mechanisms of channel clustering have only recently been identified: they include two independent axon-glia interactions that converge on distinct axonal cytoskeletons. Here, we discuss how glial cell adhesion molecules and the extracellular matrix molecules that bind them assemble combinations of ankyrins, spectrins and other cytoskeletal scaffolding proteins, which cluster ion channels. We present a detailed molecular model, incorporating these overlapping mechanisms, to explain how the nodes of Ranvier are assembled in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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