Molecular Mechanisms for neuronal interactions during synapse formation

我们研究了几个突变，表明嗅觉受体神经元在大脑第一嗅觉加工中心表现出异常的轴突投射或突触靶向。其中，我们重点研究了Wnt5、Drl和Drl-2突变体。所有这些分子构成Wnt5信号，每个分子以不同的模式表达，并调节嗅觉中心肾小球的分布。值得注意的是，Drl和Drl-2都可以在Wnt5信号传导中发挥相反的作用，这取决于它们表达的细胞。这些发现提示了Wnt5信号在神经回路发育中的新机制。

We have studied several mutants showing that the olfactory receptor neurons exhibit abnormal axonal projection or synaptic targeting in the first olfactory processing center in the brain. Among these, we have concentrated our attention on the mutants of Wnt5, Drl and Drl-2. All these molecules constitute Wnt5 signaling, each expressed in a distinct pattern, and regulate the distribution of glomeruli in the olfactory center. Notably, both Drl and Drl-2 can play opposing roles in Wnt5 signaling, depending on the cells where they are expressed. These findings suggest a new mechanism for Wnt5 signaling in the development of neural circuits.