Fig. 1.

Schematic overview of the alterations in cytoskeletal dynamics and endocytosis observed following SMN deficiency. The diagram highlights these changes at the level of the motor neuron and neuromuscular junction. All changes associated with SMN loss are represented in dark blue. SMN deficiency results in a decrease in cellular transport (e.g. synaptic vesicle, RNA granules and mitochondria) and endocytosis. In the absence of SMN, not only a destabilisation of the microtubules is observed, but also a depolymerisation of the actin cytoskeleton, which has been linked to the activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway