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Agrin orchestrates synaptic differentiation at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction

Ruegg, M. A. and Bixby, J. L.. (1998) Agrin orchestrates synaptic differentiation at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Trends in Neurosciences, 21 (1). pp. 22-27.

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Abstract

The synapse is a key structure that is involved in perception, learning and memory. Understanding the sequence of steps that is involved in establishing synapses during development might also help to understand mechanisms that cause changes in synapses during learning and memory. For practical reasons, most of our current knowledge of synapse development is derived from studies of the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that motor axons release the molecule agrin to induce the formation of the postsynaptic apparatus in muscle fibers. Recent advances implicate proteins such as dystroglycan, MuSK, and rapsyn in the transduction of agrin signals. Recently, additional functions of agrin have been discovered, including the upregulation of gene transcription in myonuclei and the control of presynaptic differentiation. Agrin therefore appears to play a unique role in controlling synaptic differentiation on both sides of the NMJ.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum > Neurobiology > Pharmacology/Neurobiology (Rüegg)
UniBasel Contributors:Rüegg, Markus A.
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0166-2236
e-ISSN:1878-108X
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
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Last Modified:17 Apr 2019 09:37
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 13:31

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