axonal transport

Definition: Axonal transport is an active, directional transport of organelles and molecules along the axon driven by specific motor proteins running along microtubules. Anterograde and retrograde axonal transport move cargoes away from and towards the cell body, respectively.

Components

 fast component (membranous cargoes)
 slow component (non-membranous cargoes)

Animations

 Axonal transport: A movie from J Cell Biol

References

 Hirokawa N, Takemura R. Molecular motors and mechanisms of directional transport in neurons. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005 Mar;6(3):201-14. PMID: 15711600

 Gunawardena S, Goldstein LS. Polyglutamine diseases and transport problems: deadly traffic jams on neuronal highways. Arch Neurol. 2005 Jan;62(1):46-51. PMID: 15642849

 Gunawardena S, Goldstein LS. Cargo-carrying motor vehicles on the neuronal highway: transport pathways and neurodegenerative disease. J Neurobiol. 2004 Feb 5;58(2):258-71. PMID: 14704957

 Goldstein LS. Do disorders of movement cause movement disorders and dementia? Neuron. 2003 Oct 9;40(2):415-25. PMID: 14556718