Remodeling myelination: implications for mechanisms of neural plasticity

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 190 - 197
• Main Authors: Chang, Kae-Jiun, Redmond, Stephanie A, Chan, Jonah R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01-02-2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13; 13/106; 14; 14/28; 631/378; 631/378/2596/1705; 631/378/2606; Analysis; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Axons - physiology; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedicine; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Humans; Membranes; Myelin Sheath - physiology; Myelination; Nervous system; Neurobiology; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons - physiology; Neuroplasticity; Neurosciences; review-article; United States; United States > US; San Francisco California; California
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn.4200

Dynamic membrane transformations are not exclusively controlled by cytoskeletal rearrangement, but also by biophysical constraints, adhesive forces, membrane curvature and compaction. Recent technological advances have helped clarify longstanding controversies concerning myelination, from target selection to axon wrapping and membrane compaction. Chang
et al
. review these findings and discuss how understanding these processes provides insight into myelination-centered mechanisms of neural plasticity.
One of the most significant paradigm shifts in membrane remodeling is the emerging view that membrane transformation is not exclusively controlled by cytoskeletal rearrangement, but also by biophysical constraints, adhesive forces, membrane curvature and compaction. One of the most exquisite examples of membrane remodeling is myelination. The advent of myelin was instrumental in advancing the nervous system during vertebrate evolution. With more rapid and efficient communication between neurons, faster and more complex computations could be performed in a given time and space. Our knowledge of how myelin-forming oligodendrocytes select and wrap axons has been limited by insufficient spatial and temporal resolution. By virtue of recent technological advances, progress has clarified longstanding controversies in the field. Here we review insights into myelination, from target selection to axon wrapping and membrane compaction, and discuss how understanding these processes has unexpectedly opened new avenues of insight into myelination-centered mechanisms of neural plasticity.