Crosstalk between Axonal Classical Microtubule-Associated Proteins and End Binding Proteins during Axon Extension: Possible Implications in Neurodegeneration

Abstract

During neuronal development, spherical neuroblasts differentiate into mature neurons through the extension of a long axon and several shorter dendrites. Morphological changes that underlie neuronal differentiation are mostly driven by the microtubular cytoskeleton. Regulation of microtubule dynamics and stability during axon and dendrite extension relies on the action of different families of microtubular proteins, such as classical microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs). This review article addresses recent research on the crosstalk between the main axonal MAPs, tau and MAP1B, and end binding proteins (EBs), the core +TIPs, during axon outgrowth in developing neuronal cells. Furthermore, we discuss the potential implications of the dysregulation of the interplay between tau and EBs in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.