Controlling myelin sheath geometry!
Mechanics of how oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the brain, insulates the axons for proper signal transduction across the neurons is not well understood.
The researchers in this study show that oligodendrocytes use mechanical cues to measure axon size.
The stretch-activated channel TMEM63A converts membrane tension into calcium signals, which calibrate myelin sheath growth via MYO5A-dependent Mbp mRNA transport.
Loss of TMEM63A causes mis-sizing of myelin sheaths and hypomyelination linked to transient infantile leukodystrophy.
