RUI: Axon Euidance Genes in C. elegans

9603709怀特曼博士研究神经系统发育中轴突引导的机制。在动物的发育过程中，神经是通过轴突的生长形成的。为了让神经系统正常运作，这些轴突必须正确地“连接”起来。这意味着轴突必须有一种确定方向的机制。他们必须能够选择一条特定的路线而不是另一条。我们用分子遗传学的方法鉴定了两个基因，FAX-1和UNC-20，它们是线虫线虫发育过程中轴突遵循正确路线所必需的。因此，这些基因可能起到为生长中的轴突提供导航信息的分子“符号”的作用。我们正在使用分子和遗传技术来克隆这两个基因，并确定它们如何为生长轴突提供方向。理解轴突引导的机制将有助于我们理解神经连接是如何发生的，从而为行为的生物学基础提供更清晰的观点。

9603709 Wightman Dr. Bruce Wightman studies the mechanism of axon guidance in the developing nervous system. During the development of an animal, nerves get formed by the growth of axons. In order for the nervous system to function properly, these axons must "wire up" properly. This means that axons must have a mechanism for determining direction. They must be able to select one particular route over another. We have employed a moleculargenetic approach to identify two genes, fax-1 and unc-20, that are required foraxons to follow the correct route during development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Therefore, these genes may function as molecular "signs" that provide navigational information to growing axons. We are using molecular and genetic techniques to clone these two genes and determine how they provide directions to growing axons. An understanding of the mechanism of axon guidance will help us understand how nerve wiring occurs, and thus provide a clearer view of the biological basis of behavior.