Molecular Motors in Neurons: Transport Mechanisms and Roles in Brain Function, Development, and Disease
Open accessAbstract
The kinesin, dynein, and myosin superfamily molecular motors have fundamental roles in neuronal function, plasticity, morphogenesis, and survival by transporting cargos such as synaptic vesicle precursors, neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factor receptors, and mRNAs within axons, dendrites, and synapses. Recent studies have begun to clarify the mechanisms of cargo selection and directional transport in subcellular compartments. Furthermore, molecular genetics has revealed unexpected roles for molecular motors in brain wiring, neuronal survival, neuronal plasticity, higher brain function, and control of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system development. Finally, it is also evident that molecular motors are critically involved in neuronal disease pathogenesis. Thus, molecular motor research is becoming an exciting frontier of neuroscience.
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- Authors
- Hirokawa, N., Niwa, S., & Tanaka, Y.
- Affiliations
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Hirokawa, Nobutaka
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-11
- Volume
- 68
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 610-638
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2037091801
- Cited by
- 1,138
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 84 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 86 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 92 · 2015: 79 · 2014: 88 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 79
- FWCI
- 4.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Hereditary Neurological Disorders
- Keywords
- molecular motors, kinesin, dynein, myosin, neuronal transport, axonal transport, cargo selection, directional transport, mRNA transport, neuroplasticity, neuronal survival, brain development, neuronal diseases, neurotrophic factor receptors
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Brain Diseases, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Molecular Motor Proteins, Protein Transport
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