Growth
During axonal growth, new neurofilament subunits are incorporated all along the axon in a dynamic process that involves the addition of subunits along the filament length, as well as the addition of subunits at the filament ends.
After an axon has grown and connected with its target cell, the diameter of the axon may increase as much as fivefold.
Neurofilaments are able to determine the diameter of dendrites and axons because their polarity causes them to repel each other.
The level of neurofilament gene expression seems to directly control axonal diameter, which in turn controls how fast electrical signals travel down the axon.
Mutant mice with neurofilament abnormalities have phenotypes resembling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Read more about this topic: Neurofilament
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