title: The mechanisms and molecules that connect photoreceptor axons to their targets in Drosophila.
abstract: The development of the Drosophila visual system provides a framework for investigating how circuits assemble. A sequence of reciprocal interactions amongst photoreceptors, target neurons and glia creates a precise pattern of connections while reducing the complexity of the targeting process. Both afferent-afferent and afferent-target interactions are required for photoreceptor (R cell) axons to select appropriate synaptic partners. With the identification of some critical cell adhesion and signaling molecules, the logic by which axons make choices amongst alternate synaptic partners is becoming clear. These studies also provide an opportunity to examine the molecular basis of neural circuit evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Fairchild D200, 299 W. Campus Drive, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Pei-Ling
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Clandinin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009415:Nerve Net; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development