CAREER: Uncovering Mechanisms of Filopodia-Based Synaptogenesis
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Overview
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Brain development requires the coordinated interaction of neurons at sites known as synapses. Synapses facilitate electrochemical communication between neurons. The mechanisms underlying the initial formation of synapses are still unclear. However, dynamic filopodia protrusions may allow dendrites to search and find a pre-synaptic axon partner, thereby initiating synapse formation. In the following proposal, we will define the molecular properties that enable filopodia to form a synapse and determine how neural activity shapes filopodial properties. This study will be instrumental in uncovering fundamental mechanisms of synapse formation that drive the development of complex neural circuits.
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