A continual interplay between neurons and their targets is fundamental to the development, maintenance and modification of synapses. Our long term goals are to identify molecules mediating these interactions and gain an understanding of their regulation. The neuromuscular systems provides a well characterized, relatively simple system in which to study these instructions. Recent studies of the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) suggest it plays an important role in nerve-muscle adhesion during synapse formation. Levels of N-CAM are regulated in turn by neural activity. By studying synapse formation in nerve-muscle co-cultures using variant cell lines deficient in N-CAM we will provide a more critical examination of the importance of N-CAM in neuromuscular synaptogenesis. Using specific antibodies and cDNA probes to N-CAM we will study the neural regulation of muscle N-CAM expression, and by molecular genetic analysis of selected N-CAM deficient variants we will identify genes required for N-CAM RNA accumulation. Finally, we will search for muscle specific differences in N-CAM structure which could play a role in selective synapse formation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29NS025264-05
Application #
3477109
Study Section
Neurology C Study Section (NEUC)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1993-06-30
Budget Start
1991-07-01
Budget End
1993-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Storrs-Mansfield
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06269