The Genetic Specification of Neuron-Target Interactions: The Role of LOLA

神经细胞（神经元）的轴突是向目标细胞延伸的长过程，它将神经信号传递给目标细胞。当神经系统发育时，生长的轴突需要一种机制来引导它们经过一段距离到达正确的目标细胞。人们普遍认为，关于轴突引导的任何单一决定都是由大量分子因子的相互作用控制的，这些分子因子可能是分泌的化合物，也可能是附着在细胞表面的化合物。协调不同蛋白的正确时间表达以指导轴突的遗传和发育机制仍然不清楚。这个项目集中于一种名为LOLA的基因转录因子，它似乎调节果蝇中一类运动神经元与其目标肌肉的相互作用。遗传学、生物化学和分子方法在这里被用来观察两种相关的Lola蛋白是如何起作用的，它们在神经元和它们的肌肉细胞目标之间是否可能有不同的作用，以及Lola的作用是如何通过控制其他基因来调节的。结果对于更好地理解总体发展将是重要的。该项目还提供优秀的博士后培养。

The axon of a nerve cell (neuron) is the long process extending to a target cell, which carries the nerve signal to the target. When the nervous system develops, the growing axons require mechanisms for guiding them over some distance to the right target cells. It is commonly believed that any single decision about axon guidance is controlled by the interplay of a large number of molecular factors that may be secreted compounds, or compounds attached to cell surfaces. The genetic and developmental mechanisms that coordinate the correct timed expression of different proteins for axonal guidance remain obscure. This project concentrates on a genetic transcription factor named LOLA that appears to regulate the interaction of a class of motor neurons with their target muscles in the fruitfly, Drosophila. Genetic, biochemical and molecular approaches are used here to see how two related Lola proteins act, whether they may act differently between the neurons and their muscle cell targets, and how the effects of lola are modulated by control of other genes. Results will be important for better understanding development in general. The project also provides fine postdoctoral training.