In neurons, microtubule organization differs because:
Neuronal microtubules show compartment specific organization supporting unique transport needs required for polarity and synaptic plasticity. In axon nearly all microtubules oriented with plus ends distal toward growth cone forming uniform polarity highway kinesins deliver efficiently outward dynein returns inward without directional ambiguity allowing fast axonal transport of synaptic vesicles mitochondria. Uniformity maintained by selective transport of microtubules plus organized bundling via TRIM46 at axon initial segment plus patronin minus capping and augmin driven polarity sorting. In d
Ref: Baas et al., J Cell Sci 2016 – Neuron microtubule polarity mixed in dendrites vs uniform in axons.
