The Effects of Npas4 and Sema4D on Inhibitory Synapse Formation
Basic & Clinical During development, hundreds of proteins direct
the formation and maintenance of synapses (connections between
brain cells) that shape the proper circuitry of the brain. As
synapses form, eliminate, and re-form, a precise balance between
the inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs must be attained
for accurate brain function. Mutations in the proteins that
regulate synapse development give rise to defects in these
processes and have been suggested to be responsible for
disorders of human cognitive function such as Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD). Dr. Greenberg and colleagues have identified an
activity-regulated gene Npas4 that encodes a protein required
specifically for the formation of inhibitory synapses. However,
the molecular mechanism by which Npas4 selectively controls the
formation of inhibitory synapses remains unknown. This project
will use mice deficient in Npas4 to gain insight into this
process. Genome-wide screens