title: The Wnt and BMP families of signaling morphogens at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction.
abstract: The neuromuscular junction has been extensively employed in order to identify crucial determinants of synaptogenesis. At the vertebrate neuromuscular synapse, extracellular matrix and signaling proteins play stimulatory and inhibitory roles on the assembly of functional synapses. Studies in invertebrate species have revealed crucial functions of early morphogens during the assembly and maturation of the neuromuscular junction. Here, we discuss growing evidence addressing the function of Wnt and Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways at the vertebrate neuromuscular synapse. We focus on the emerging role of Wnt proteins as positive and negative regulators of postsynaptic differentiation. We also address the possible involvement of BMP pathways on motor neuron behavior for the assembly and/or regeneration of the neuromuscular junction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology (LDNB), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Concepcion, and CMA Bio-Bio, Concepcion 4089100, Chile. jhenriquez@udec.cl
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henríquez
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Krull
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osses
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins