Polarity Determinants in Dendritic Spine Development and Plasticity

Figure 2

Par polarity proteins in dendritic spines. Members of the partitioning-defective (Par) polarity proteins regulate dendritic spine development through different pathways. Par1 functions downstream of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) to regulate dynamic microtubules and to phosphorylate PSD-95. Par3 functions downstream of the BAI1 receptor and targets TIAM1 to modulate Rac activity. Par6 and aPKC function through p190 RhoGAP to inhibit RhoA. Both Rac and Rho are central regulators of actin dynamics.