Structure and function of subcortical periodic cytoskeletonthroughout the nervous system

Abstract

The cytoskeleton plays an essential role in various functions of different cell types and is involved in the pathogenesis of several neural diseases. With the development of super-resolution fluorescence imaging technologies, which combine the molecular specificity and simple sample preparation of fluorescence microscopy with a spatial resolution comparable to that of electron microscopy, numerous new features have been revealed in the organization of the subcortical cytoskeleton. A novel periodic lattice cytoskeleton is prevalent in different cell types throughout the nervous system. Here, we review the current studies of the molecular distribution, developmental mechanisms, and functional properties of this periodic cytoskeleton structure.