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Growing Branches
16 January 2016

Growing Branches

To receive information from neighbouring cells, neurons connect to each other with dendrites, forming an elaborate branching system known as the dendritic arbor. Developing this extensive network is difficult, as the dendrites must contact specific cells, and avoid interfering with each other. In addition, creating dendrites involves moving vast amounts of protein and membrane components around, a challenge in itself. Recent work on sensory neuron wiring in the nematode worm C. elegans, whose dendritic arbor is shown here, has revealed some of the mechanisms that make it possible. RAB-10, a small signalling molecule, was found to play a key role in determining the branching pattern of dendrites; it also enables their growth by regulating the activity of the proteins kinesin and dynein, 'molecular motors' which can move cargoes around the cell. This makes it a key component in this hugely complex process, crucial to the development of nervous systems.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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