成長円錐は伸長中の神経突起の先端部に見られるアメーバ状の構造物である(図1)。19世紀にスペインの神経科学者Ramón y Cajalにより、固定染色した神経組織において神経軸索先端部に円錐状の構造が発見され、growth cone=成長円錐と名付けられた。2次元基質上で培養した場合は薄く扁平な形態をとり、多くが伸長中の神経軸索の先端に存在するが樹状突起の先端にも存在する。また、PC12細胞やN1E-115細胞のような株化細胞から伸びる神経突起様構造物の先端にも見られる。軸索の成長円錐の場合、標的神経細胞の樹状突起や組織へと到達した後は形態変化を起こしシナプス前部となる。成長円錐は極めて高い運動性を示し、細胞骨格や接着分子、膜輸送経路の制御を通じて前方へと移動し、神経突起を牽引することで伸長させる。また、成長円錐の形質膜には軸索ガイダンス因子に対する受容体が多数発現しており、軸索の成長円錐は細胞外環境に存在する軸索ガイダンス因子に応じてその運動性と進行方向を変化させ、神経軸索を正しい標的細胞へと投射させる。
上述したとおり、成長円錐は軸索ガイダンス因子に対する応答性(反応の有無、誘引-反発の方向)を場所や時期により変化させる。また、成長円錐は生体内で様々な軸索ガイダンス因子のシグナルを受容しており、成長円錐の旋回方向は多様な細胞内シグナル伝達経路の複雑なクロストークの結果決定されると考えられる。近年、成長円錐の旋回方向(誘引 or 反発)を決定する分子メカニズムの理解が急速に進んでおり、以下に旋回方向を規定する因子について概説する。
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