title: Understanding Synaptogenesis and Functional Connectome in C. elegans by Imaging Technology.
abstract: Formation of functional synapses is a fundamental process for establishing neural circuits and ultimately for expressing complex behavior. Extensive research has interrogated how such functional synapses are formed and how synapse formation contributes to the generation of neural circuitry and behavior. The nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans, due to its relatively simple structure, the transparent body, and tractable genetic system, has been adapted as an excellent model to investigate synapses and the functional connectome. Advances in imaging technology together with the improvement of genetically encoded molecular tools enabled us to visualize synapses and neural circuits of the animal model, which provide insights into our understanding of molecules and their signaling pathways that mediate synapse formation and neuronal network modulation. Here, we review synaptogenesis in active zones and the mapping of local connectome in C. elegans nervous system whose understandings have been extended by the advances in imaging technology along with the genetic molecular tools.
authors.affiliation: Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul, South Korea; Department of Life Sciences, Korea UniversitySeoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul, South Korea; Department of Neuroscience, Korea University of Science and TechnologyDaejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mikyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: C. elegans; functional connectome; imaging; neural circuits; presynaptic assembly; synaptic specificity; synaptogenesis