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7422868 
Journal Article 
Plasma membrane expansion: a neuron's Herculean task 
Pfenninger, KH; , 
2009 
1 
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience
ISSN: 1471-003X
EISSN: 1471-0048 
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP 
LONDON 
251-261 
English 
19259102 
WOS:000264402500008 
The formation of axons and dendrites and maintenance of the neuron's vastly expanded surface require the continuous addition of new membrane. This is achieved by membrane synthesis through the secretory pathway followed by regulated vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane, typically in the distal neurite. However, it is far from simple: multiple distinct membrane carriers are used to target specific membrane domains, dendrites seem to operate semi-autonomously from the rest of the neuron, and exocytosis for membrane expansion is different from that for release of synaptic vesicles. Current knowledge of this process and its implications for neuronal development, function and repair are reviewed.