Title:	The axonal actin-spectrin lattice acts as a tension buffering shock absorber
Authors:	Dubey, Sushil Bhembre, Nishita Bodas, Shivani Veer, Sukh Ghose, Aurnab Callan-Jones, Andrew
Issue Date:	Apr-2020
Publisher:	eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
Citation:	elife, 2020, Vol.9, Article No.51772
Abstract:	Axons span extreme distances and are subject to significant stretch deformations during limb movements or sudden head movements, especially during impacts. Yet, axon biomechanics, and its relation to the ultrastructure that allows axons to withstand mechanical stress, is poorly understood. Using a custom developed force apparatus, we demonstrate that chick dorsal root ganglion axons exhibit a tension buffering or strain-softening response, where its steady state elastic modulus decreases with increasing strain. We then explore the contributions from the various cytoskeletal components of the axon to show that the recently discovered membrane-associated actin-spectrin scaffold plays a prominent mechanical role. Finally, using a theoretical model, we argue that the actin-spectrin skeleton acts as an axonal tension buffer by reversibly unfolding repeat domains of the spectrin tetramers to release excess mechanical stress. Our results revise the current viewpoint that microtubules and their associated proteins are the only significant load-bearing elements in axons.
Description:	Open Access.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/7479
ISSN:	2050-084X
Alternative Location:	https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/510560v2 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.51772
Copyright:	eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (SCM)

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