Measuring Axonal Cargo Transport in Mouse Primary Cortical Cultured Neurons. 2023

Yuriko Sobu, and Toshiharu Suzuki
Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University; Advanced Prevention and Research Laboratory for Dementia, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University; sobu@pharm.hokudai.ac.jp.

Neuronal cells are highly polarized cells that stereotypically harbor several dendrites and an axon. The length of an axon necessitates efficient bidirectional transport by motor proteins. Various reports have suggested that defects in axonal transport are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Also, the mechanism of the coordination of multiple motor proteins has been an attractive topic. Since the axon has uni-directional microtubules, it is easier to determine which motor proteins are involved in the movement. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the transport of axonal cargo is crucial for uncovering the molecular mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases and the regulation of motor proteins. Here, we introduce the entire process of axonal transport analysis, including the culturing of mouse primary cortical neurons, transfection of plasmids encoding cargo proteins, and directional and velocity analyses without the effect of pauses. Furthermore, the open-access software "KYMOMAKER" is introduced, which enables the generation of a kymograph to highlight transport traces according to their direction and allow easier visualization of axonal transport.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008870 Microtubules Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS. Microtubule
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004398 Dyneins A family of multi-subunit cytoskeletal motor proteins that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis, generated by a ring of AAA ATPASES in the dynein heavy chain, to power a variety of cellular functions. Dyneins fall into two major classes based upon structural and functional criteria. ATPase, Dynein,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Dynein,Dynein,Dynein ATPase,Dynein Adenosinetriphosphatase,Dynein Heavy Chain,Dynein Intermediate Chain,Dynein Light Chain,Dynein Light Intermediate Chain,Adenosine Triphosphatase, Dynein,Dynein Heavy Chains,Dynein Intermediate Chains,Dynein Light Chains,Dynein Light Intermediate Chains,Chain, Dynein Heavy,Chain, Dynein Intermediate,Chain, Dynein Light,Chains, Dynein Heavy,Chains, Dynein Intermediate,Chains, Dynein Light,Dynein Adenosine Triphosphatase,Heavy Chain, Dynein,Heavy Chains, Dynein,Intermediate Chain, Dynein,Intermediate Chains, Dynein,Light Chain, Dynein,Light Chains, Dynein
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D001370 Axonal Transport The directed transport of ORGANELLES and molecules along nerve cell AXONS. Transport can be anterograde (from the cell body) or retrograde (toward the cell body). (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3d ed, pG3) Axoplasmic Flow,Axoplasmic Transport,Axoplasmic Streaming,Axonal Transports,Axoplasmic Flows,Axoplasmic Transports,Streaming, Axoplasmic,Transport, Axonal,Transport, Axoplasmic,Transports, Axonal,Transports, Axoplasmic
D016547 Kinesins A family of microtubule-associated mechanical adenosine triphosphatases, that uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move organelles along microtubules including mitosis, meiosis, and axonal transport. Kinesin,Kinesin Heavy-Chain Protein,Kinesin Light-Chain Protein,Kinesin Light-Chain Proteins,Kinesin Superfamily,Heavy-Chain Protein, Kinesin,Light-Chain Protein, Kinesin,Light-Chain Proteins, Kinesin,Protein, Kinesin Heavy-Chain,Protein, Kinesin Light-Chain,Proteins, Kinesin Light-Chain,Superfamily, Kinesin
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D019636 Neurodegenerative Diseases Hereditary and sporadic conditions which are characterized by progressive nervous system dysfunction. These disorders are often associated with atrophy of the affected central or peripheral nervous system structures. Degenerative Diseases, Nervous System,Degenerative Diseases, Central Nervous System,Degenerative Diseases, Neurologic,Degenerative Diseases, Spinal Cord,Degenerative Neurologic Diseases,Degenerative Neurologic Disorders,Nervous System Degenerative Diseases,Neurodegenerative Disorders,Neurologic Degenerative Conditions,Neurologic Degenerative Diseases,Neurologic Diseases, Degenerative,Degenerative Condition, Neurologic,Degenerative Conditions, Neurologic,Degenerative Neurologic Disease,Degenerative Neurologic Disorder,Neurodegenerative Disease,Neurodegenerative Disorder,Neurologic Degenerative Condition,Neurologic Degenerative Disease,Neurologic Disease, Degenerative,Neurologic Disorder, Degenerative,Neurologic Disorders, Degenerative

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