Cilia And Nervous System Development And Function

Cilia and Nervous System Development and Function

Cilia are tiny microtubule-based organelles projecting from the plasma membrane of practically all cells in the body. In the past 10 years a flurry of research has indicated a crucial role of this long-neglected organelle in the development and function of the central nervous system. A common theme of these studies is the critical dependency of signal transduction of the Sonic hedgehog, and more recently, Wnt signaling pathways upon cilia to regulate fate decisions and morphogenesis. Both primary and motile cilia also play crucial roles in the function of the nervous system, including the primary processing of sensory information, the control of body mass, and higher functions such as behavior and cognition, serving as "antennae" for neurons to sense and process their environment. In this book we describe the structure and function of cilia and the various tissues throughout the brain and spinal cord that are dependent upon cilia for their proper development and function.

Primary Cilia

Cell Communication and Signaling in Health and Disease

Cell communication and signaling are essential functions for life. The topic encompasses all basic and translational aspects of cellular communication and signaling pathways in normal and pathological conditions. Many diseases are the result of dysfunction in cell communication and signaling. This book presents contributions ranging from studies of sensory transduction, membrane receptors, ion channels, protein modification, cell transformation, receptor internalization, and trafficking to disease-oriented studies focusing on neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. As such, the book will provide a gateway for newly interested investigators and serve as a resource for seasoned researchers of cell biological phenomena in health and disease. Targeted at students and researchers in biological, medical, and chemical disciplines, this book will provide an overview of the work that is being done on this cell biology topic. The book highlights any gaps and areas that would benefit from further exploration pertaining to both intracellular and intercellular cell communication and signaling. In addition, the book will contribute to the training of current and future cell biologists.