Lose it to use it

In this issue, Wang et al. (2021. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201911114) describe a phenomenon in which neuromuscular junction synapse elimination triggers myelination of terminal motor axon branches. They propose a mechanism initiated by synaptic pruning that depends on synaptic activity, cytoskeletal maturation, and the associated anterograde transport of trophic factors including Neuregulin 1-III.

Automated summary

The study reveals a phenomenon in which neuromuscular junction synapse elimination triggers myelination of terminal motor axon branches, with a mechanism involving synaptic activity, cytoskeletal maturation, and the transport of trophic factors.