As action potentials propagate along axons, they are regenerated by excitatory domains called nodes of Ranvier. This study uncovered multiple ‘back-up’ molecular mechanisms to assemble nodes, all dependent on the interaction between neurons and myelinating glial cells.
Susuki K, Chang K-J, Zollinger DR, Liu Y, Ogawa Y, Eshed-Eisenbach Y, Dours-Zimmermann MT, Oses-Prieto J, Burlingame AL, Seidenbecher C, Zimmermann DR, Oohashi T, Peles E, Rasband MN (2013). Three mechanisms assemble central nervous system nodes of Ranvier. Neuron 78:469-482.