Figure 4.

Schematic illustration of neurite initiation. Illustration of the typical stages of neurite initiation. In stage 1, actin based lamellipodia type structures rapidly form and retract. In stage 2, microtubules begin to invade and stabilize lamellipodia structures preventing their collapse. In stage 3, neurites that have been invaded by microtubules become stable structures and begin to extend in stage 4. The overexpression of 14-3-3ε prevents the invasion of microtubules into forming neurites as seen in stage 2, thus disrupting neurite formation.