Identification of cytoskeletal, focal adhesion, and cell adhesion proteins in growth cone particles isolated from developing chick brain.

Growth cones are intimately involved in determining the direction and extent of neurite elongation during development. They are able to monitor their environment and respond to it by undergoing directed motility. We have isolated a fraction enriched in growth cone particles from embryonic chick brain. Assayed by immunoblots, this fraction is enriched in GAP-43, and contains the cytoskeletal proteins actin, myosin II, neurofilament protein, tubulin, kinesin, and dynamin. All of the major components of focal adhesions are also present: alpha-actinin, vinculin, talin, and integrin. In addition to integrin, we also identify the cell adhesion molecules A-CAM, L1, fibronectin, and laminin in these particles. This preparation of isolated growth cone particles may be a useful model system for studying growth cone adhesion and motility.