Author
David Van Vactor
Other affiliations: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, University of California, Berkeley
Bio: David Van Vactor is an academic researcher from Harvard University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Axon guidance & Axon. The author has an hindex of 38, co-authored 83 publications receiving 6067 citations. Previous affiliations of David Van Vactor include Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology & University of California, Berkeley.
Topics: Axon guidance, Axon, Synapse, Growth cone, Genetic screen
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: The understanding of the functions and regulation of the vehicle and navigator provides new insights into the cell biology of growth cone guidance.
Abstract: The central component in the road trip of axon guidance is the growth cone, a dynamic structure that is located at the tip of the growing axon. During its journey, the growth cone comprises both 'vehicle' and 'navigator'. Whereas the 'vehicle' maintains growth cone movement and contains the cytoskeletal structural elements of its framework, a motor to move forward and a mechanism to provide traction on the 'road', the 'navigator' aspect guides this system with spatial bias to translate environmental signals into directional movement. The understanding of the functions and regulation of the vehicle and navigator provides new insights into the cell biology of growth cone guidance.
737 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that Dlar, Abl, and Ena define a phosphorylation state-dependent switch that controls growth cone behavior by transmitting signals at the cell surface to the actin cytoskeleton.
303 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that Dliprin-α and Dlar are required for normal synaptic morphology, and it is found that synapse complexity is proportional to the amount of Dlar gene product, suggesting that Dlar activity determines synapse size.
294 citations
TL;DR: Here it is considered that recent advances in the study of microRNA-mediated regulation of synaptic form and function in mice are considered to be significant.
263 citations
TL;DR: A model in which presynaptic LAR is under complex control, with Sdc promoting and Dlp inhibiting LAR in order to control synapse morphogenesis and function is proposed.
244 citations
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TL;DR: In this review, functions of small G proteins and their modes of activation and action are described.
Abstract: Small GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) exist in eukaryotes from yeast to human and constitute a superfamily consisting of more than 100 members. This superfamily is structurally classified into at least five families: the Ras, Rho, Rab, Sar1/Arf, and Ran families. They regulate a wide variety of cell functions as biological timers (biotimers) that initiate and terminate specific cell functions and determine the periods of time for the continuation of the specific cell functions. They furthermore play key roles in not only temporal but also spatial determination of specific cell functions. The Ras family regulates gene expression, the Rho family regulates cytoskeletal reorganization and gene expression, the Rab and Sar1/Arf families regulate vesicle trafficking, and the Ran family regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport and microtubule organization. Many upstream regulators and downstream effectors of small G proteins have been isolated, and their modes of activation and action have gradually been elucidated. Cascades and cross-talks of small G proteins have also been clarified. In this review, functions of small G proteins and their modes of activation and action are described.
2,520 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the RhoA/ROK pathway is constitutively active in a number of organs under physiological conditions; its aberrations play major roles in several disease states, particularly impacting on Ca2+ sensitization of smooth muscle in hypertension and possibly asthma and on cancer neoangiogenesis and cancer progression.
Abstract: Somlyo, Andrew P., and Avril V. Somlyo. Ca2+ Sensitivity of Smooth Muscle and Nonmuscle Myosin II: Modulated by G Proteins, Kinases, and Myosin Phosphatase. Physiol Rev 83: 1325-1358, 2003; 10.1152...
1,923 citations
TL;DR: Recent breakthroughs in understanding of the role of the PTPs in the regulation of signal transduction and the aetiology of human disease are described.
Abstract: The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily of enzymes functions in a coordinated manner with protein tyrosine kinases to control signalling pathways that underlie a broad spectrum of fundamental physiological processes. In this review, I describe recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the role of the PTPs in the regulation of signal transduction and the aetiology of human disease.
1,498 citations
TL;DR: The role of miRNAAs in tumorigenesis is described and the rationale, the strategies and the challenges for the therapeutic targeting of miRNAs in cancer are critically discussed.
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Early studies have shown that miRNA expression is deregulated in cancer and experimental data indicate that cancer phenotypes can be modified by targeting miRNA expression. Based on these observations, miRNA-based anticancer therapies are being developed, either alone or in combination with current targeted therapies, with the goal to improve disease response and increase cure rates. The advantage of using miRNA approaches is based on its ability to concurrently target multiple effectors of pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. In this Review, we describe the role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis and critically discuss the rationale, the strategies and the challenges for the therapeutic targeting of miRNAs in cancer.
1,399 citations
TL;DR: The expression, post-translational modifications and functions of tau in physiology and in pathophysiology are reviewed, including the identification of new physiological roles for t Tau in the brain.
Abstract: Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that has a role in stabilizing neuronal microtubules and thus in promoting axonal outgrowth. Structurally, tau is a natively unfolded protein, is highly soluble and shows little tendency for aggregation. However, tau aggregation is characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. The mechanisms underlying tau pathology and tau-mediated neurodegeneration are debated, but considerable progress has been made in the field of tau research in recent years, including the identification of new physiological roles for tau in the brain. Here, we review the expression, post-translational modifications and functions of tau in physiology and in pathophysiology.
1,375 citations