Modulation by Phosphorylation of Microtubule Protein Function in the Development of Neural Processes

The possible role of microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) in the development of cytoplasmic extensions resulting in the appearance of the axon and dendrites is indicated.That role is based in the association of MAPs to microtubules. The association of MAPs to microtubules is mainly modulated by phosphorylation and that association regulates the degree of microtubule stability. The presence of stable microtubules correlates with that of cytoplasmic extensions.