title: Cell biology in neuroscience: cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying presynapse formation.
abstract: Synapse formation is a highly regulated process that requires the coordination of many cell biological events. Decades of research have identified a long list of molecular components involved in assembling a functioning synapse. Yet how the various steps, from transporting synaptic components to adhering synaptic partners and assembling the synaptic structure, are regulated and precisely executed during development and maintenance is still unclear. With the improvement of imaging and molecular tools, recent work in vertebrate and invertebrate systems has provided important insight into various aspects of presynaptic development, maintenance, and trans-synaptic signals, thereby increasing our understanding of how extrinsic organizers and intracellular mechanisms contribute to presynapse formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.
authors.forename: Poh Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Pengpeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins