The role of Neuroligin in synapse formation in vitro and in vivo
University of Oregon Dr. Washbourne's lab will be investigating
the effects of neuroligin mutation on the expression of cell
adhesion molecules. Cell adhesion molecules play a key role in
the generation of new synapses, stabilization of existing
connections in the brain, and establishment of the proper
balance of activation vs. inhibition of activation in under the
appropriate conditions. This experiment will extend the other
projects which target neuroligin as a protein of interest by
generating a strain of mouse with a mutation of neuroligin which
can be "turned on" and "turned off". In this way, the expression
of the neuroligin protein can be maintained under normal
conditions as well as conditions where the protein is not
produced normally, and the stability and maintenance of brain
connections on a cellular level can be observed. Significance:
Using state of the art techniques this new animal strain
represents an unprecedented model system