Abstract
Synapse formation is the quintessential process by which neurons form specific connections with their targets to enable the development of functional circuits. Over the past few decades, intense research efforts have identified thousands of proteins that localize to the pre- and postsynaptic compartments. Genetic dissection has provided important insights into the nexus of the molecular and cellular network, and has greatly advanced our knowledge about how synapses form and function physiologically. Moreover, recent studies have highlighted the complex regulation of synapse formation with the identification of novel mechanisms involving cell interactions from non-neuronal sources. In this review, we cover the conserved pathways required for synaptogenesis and place specific focus on new themes of synapse modulation arising from studies in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 85-97 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Developmental Biology |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology