Figure 2. Motor-Driven Forces in the Growth Cone.
(A) During growth cone advance, cytoplasmic dynein generates forces on microtubules (MT) that enable some of them to resist the retrograde flow of the actin cytoskeleton in the peripheral domain of the growth cone. Kinesin-5 and kinesin-12 generate forces that oppose dynein-driven forces on the microtubules to resist their entry into the peripheral domain. Kinesin-5 acts more in the transition zone, while kinesin-12 acts more in the filopodia. (B) During growth cone turning, kinesin-5 and kinesin-12 forces become polarized to the side of the growth cone opposite to the direction of the turn. This enables microtubules to preferentially enter the side of the growth cone in the direction of the turn.