Axon elongation and axon initial segment function

Neurons are highly specialized cells, differentiated into two compartments, axonal and somatodendritic. These compartments are completely different in their morphology and physiological function. Axon formation is an essential stage in neuronal polarization, followed by the formation of the axon initial segment (AIS), which controls the traffic of proteins into the axon, axon identity, maintains its integrity and is responsible for the generation of action potentials that allow the transmission of nerve impulses. In this sense, our group works on the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate axonal elongation and maintanance of axon initial segment in physiological and pathological conditions. Knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate these structures is essential to understand the origin and the therapeutic management of disorders described in the CNS associated with injuries and diseases in the axon and the axon initial segment.