Signal Transduction in Neuron Migration & Axon Guidance

描述(由申请人提供)：这是计划项目的第一个竞争性续签申请，以支持和扩大互动，重点是控制神经元过程的定向生长和神经元细胞的定向移动的信号机制。这两个特性共同对神经元的功能至关重要，因为神经元的准确位置及其轴突和树突的适当连接是所有神经元信号和可塑性的基础。神经元迁移的异常模式与精神发育迟滞、癫痫和阅读障碍相关的人类神经系统疾病有关，而先天性精神发育迟缓的神经功能障碍主要表现为轴突和树突连接障碍。项目1由克里斯托弗·沃尔什领导，以人类遗传学研究为基础，重点分析与神经元迁移和生长过程有关的基因。项目3由约翰·弗拉纳根领导，重点是神经指导因子在动物模型中的作用机制。由大卫·范·瓦泰尔领导的项目2专注于分析控制Drosphila中轴突引导的基因，其中一些与人类疾病基因相对应。有两个核心，其中一个致力于支持最先进的成像。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is the first competing renewal application for a Program Project to support and expand interactions that focus on the signaling mechanisms that control the directed outgrowth of neuronal processes and the directed movement of neuronal cells. Together these two properties are essential to neuronal function, since the precise location of neurons and proper interconnection of their axons and dendrites underpins all neuronal signaling and plasticity. Abnormal patterns of neuronal migration have been implicated in human neurological disorders associated with mental retardation, epilepsy, and dyslexia, while congenital disorders of mental retardation are increasingly recognized as having major disorders of axonal and dendritic connections. Project 1, headed by Christopher Walsh, focuses on the analysis of genes implicated in neuronal migration and process outgrowth based on human genetic studies. Project 3, headed by John Flanagan, focuses on mechanisms of action of neural guidance factors in animal models. Project 2, headed by Davie Van Vactor, focuses on analysis of genes that control axon guidance in Drosphila, some of which correspond to human disease genes. There are two cores, one of which is dedicated to supporting state-of-the-art imaging.