Fig. 7: Illustrative model depicting the proposed regulation of cortical axonal growth by CYFIP1.
From: CYFIP1 governs the development of cortical axons by modulating calcium availability
CYFIP1, potentially interacting with the RNA binding proteins HuD and HuR (previously identified as CYFIP1 interactors), is implicated in regulating the mRNA stability of calcium channel subunits Cacna1c, Cacna1e and Cacna1i. In Cyfip1+/- neurons, reduced CYFIP1 levels result in a decrease protein abundance of the regulated calcium channel subunits, consequently leading to a decrease in intracellular and mitochondrial calcium concentration. Low levels of calcium ions may affect mitochondria polarity and motility, both of which we found impaired in Cyfip1+/- axons. The decreased calcium concentration and the mitochondrial defects concur in reducing axonal growth observed in Cyfip1+/- neurons. By restoring the intracellular calcium homeostasis, both the axonal growth and mitochondrial defects are rescued. Created in BioRender. https://BioRender.com/xquv8cy.
