title: To build a synapse: signaling pathways in neuromuscular junction assembly.
abstract: Synapses, as fundamental units of the neural circuitry, enable complex behaviors. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a synapse type that forms between motoneurons and skeletal muscle fibers and that exhibits a high degree of subcellular specialization. Aided by genetic techniques and suitable animal models, studies in the past decade have brought significant progress in identifying NMJ components and assembly mechanisms. This review highlights recent advances in the study of NMJ development, focusing on signaling pathways that are activated by diffusible cues, which shed light on synaptogenesis in the brain and contribute to a better understanding of muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Program of Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wen C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D018171:Agrin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018171:Agrin; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007797:Laminin; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003094:Collagen; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases