Actin cytoskeleton in dendritic spine development and plasticity

Highlights • Dendritic spines depend on the actin cytoskeleton and its remodeling for their structure and plasticity. • Actin nucleation factors enable the formation and growth of distinct F-actin networks in spines. • Capping of actin filaments is a crucial step for the actin networks underlying spine formation and plasticity. • Different actin regulatory proteins are spatiotemporally targeted and regulated in spines. • Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton underlies synaptic dysfunction in brain disorders.