Life on the road

As nerve axons migrate during wiring of the nervous system, molecular signposts at intermediate targets show them the way, and a target has now been found to keep axons alive — provided they're on the right track.

Abstract

To form the connections of the nervous system, axons must connect up with the areas that will be their final target. Intermediate targets are thought to act as signposts along the way, sending out guidance molecules that tell the axons which way to go. But a new study shows that these intermediate targets do much more than this, and that they are required to keep the migrating neurons alive. As nerve axons migrate during wiring of the nervous system, molecular signposts at intermediate targets show them the way. Such a target has now bee n found to keep axons alive — provided they're on the right track.