The Neurodevelopmental Implications of PI3K Signaling

Kathryn Waite, Britta J. Eickholt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingOther chapter contribution

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the formation of the complex arrangement of neurons and their interconnections within the brain has made significant progress in recent years. Current research has uncovered a network of intracellular signaling events that provide precise coordination of a diverse array of cellular responses, including trafficking events, cytoskeletal remodeling, gene transcription, and protein ubiquitination and translation. This chapter considers the specific cellular responses controlled by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway, which is instructive with regard to a number of important steps involved in the development of the brain. These range from the mediation of extrinsic signals such as growth factors, axon guidance cues, and extracellular matrix components to intrinsic effectors, such as downstream signaling components that act, for example, at the translation level. PI3K signaling is, consequently, at the heart of controlling neuronal migration and neuronal morphogenesis, as well as dendrite and synapse development. Many neurobehavioral disorders arise as a consequence of subtle developmental abnormalities. Unsurprisingly, therefore, aberrant PI3K signaling has been indicated by many studies to be a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. In this chapter, we will focus on the specific, yet divergent, cellular processes that are achieved through PI3K signaling in neurons and are key to brain development.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhosphoinositide 3-kinase in Health and Disease
Subtitle of host publicationVolume 1
EditorsChristian Rommel, Bart Vanhaesebroeck, Peter K Vogt
Place of PublicationHeidelberg ; New York
PublisherSpringer
Pages245-265
Number of pages21
Volume1
EditionN/A
ISBN (Print)9783642136627
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
ISSN (Print)0070-217X

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