Figure 1.
A schematic diagram illustrating potential functions of microtubules in dendritic spines. In addition to the proposed MT regulation of actin cytoskeleton through p140Cap and Src kinases on cortactin, MTs may also be involved in delivering membraneous organelles (e.g. mitiochondria and receptor-containing vesicles), as well as ribosome/RNA complexes, to the dendritic spine. It is likely that MTs and the actin cytoskeleton cooperate in the delivery of these cargos into spines and in the regulation of spine structure and function.