About this Research Topic

Background

Axons represent the largest subcellular compartment of neurons and a major line of information transmission among connected neurons. Not surprisingly, axonal pathology represents a common pathogenic feature associated with loss of neuronal connectivity in multiple unrelated neurodegenerative diseases.

The generation and maintenance of functionally discrete axonal subdomains (e.g., theaxonal hillock, presynapses and nodes of Ranvier) involves the coordination of numerous cellular processes including energy production, cytoskeleton assembly/dynamics, axonal transport, and protein degradation, among many others. Protein phosphorylation represents a major mechanism allowing such coordination, highlighting a major role of protein kinases and phosphatases on axonal biology.

This Research topic will feature work addressing the role of specific protein kinases and phosphatases on various aspects of axonal function, as well as their contribution to axonal pathology in the context of human neurological disorders. The topic will also feature work involving the development and characterization of methods that facilitate the study of molecular events within axons.

Overall, the goal of this topic is to present sound work on phosphorylation-based mechanisms that directly or indirectly relate to the topic of Axonal Biology.

We seek several forms of contributions that include original research articles, reviews and mini reviews. Topics of interest include, but are not restricted to:
• Role of protein kinases and phosphatases on the regulation of cellular processes sustaining axonal health
• Methodologies and experimental systems suitable for the analysis of protein phosphorylation in axons.
• Phosphorylation-dependent regulation of critical cytoskeletal components, including microtubules , microtubule-associated proteins and neurofilaments.
• Phosphorylation-dependent regulation of synaptic function.
• Alterations in phospho-signaling pathways associated with axonal pathology.
• Role of protein kinases and phosphatases on the functionality of discrete axonal subcompartments.

Keywords: Axon, Kinase, Phosphatase, phosphorylation signaling, axonal transport, cytoskeleton, synapse, node of Ranviers, neurodegenerative disease, Neurodegeneration

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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