The Cell Biology of Dendrite Differentiation

The morphology of neuronal dendrites defines the position and extent of input connections that a neuron receives and influences computational aspects of input processing. Establishing appropriate dendrite morphology thus underscores proper neuronal function. Indeed, inappropriate patterning of dendrites is a common feature of conditions that lead to mental retardation. Here, we explore the basic mechanisms that lead to the formation of branched dendrites and the cell biological aspects that underlie this complex process. We summarize some of the major steps that from developmental transcriptional regulation and environmental information modulate the neuron’s cytoskeleton to obtain the arborized structures that have fascinated neuroscientists for more than a century.