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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jun 26.
Published in final edited form as: Neuron. 2011 Jun 23;70(6):1085–1099. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.04.025

Figure 8. NGF and NT-3 differentially employ calcineurin signaling to promote axonal growth in sympathetic neurons.

Figure 8

NT-3 and NGF act upon a common TrkA receptor in sympathetic neurons to regulate distinct stages of axonal growth. NT-3 promotes proximal axon extension along the vasculature, whereas NGF is required for innervation of final peripheral targets. NGF-specific engagement of the PLC-γ effector pathway activates the calcium-responsive phosphatase, calcineurin. Calcineurin dephosphorylates PxIxIT motif-containing dynamin1 isoforms to promote TrkA endocytosis. Calcineurin-mediated endocytic trafficking of TrkA receptors signals locally in sympathetic nerve terminals to promote NGF-dependent axonal extension and branching within final target tissues.