My broad goal is to elucidate mechanisms by which neurons form specific synapses at precisely targeted locations. One major determinant of synaptic specificity is laminar specificity, the restriction of particular axonal arbors to specific laminae within the target area. The widespread and prominent presence of laminar specificity throughout the central nervous system is indicative of its fundamental importance. Recent work from the Sanes laboratory provided clues that one such family of molecules, Sidekicks (Sdks), mediate this developmental process in the retina. Using the mouse retina as a model system, I will use cellular and genetic approaches to functionally test the role of Sdks. I hypothesize that Sidekicks are determinants of lamina- specific synaptogenesis.
| Hong, Y Kate; Lacefield, Clay O; Rodgers, Chris C et al. (2018) Sensation, movement and learning in the absence of barrel cortex. Nature 561:542-546 |
| Hong, Y Kate; Burr, Eliza F; Sanes, Joshua R et al. (2018) Heterogeneity of retinogeniculate axon arbors. Eur J Neurosci : |
| Krishnaswamy, Arjun; Yamagata, Masahito; Duan, Xin et al. (2015) Sidekick 2 directs formation of a retinal circuit that detects differential motion. Nature 524:466-470 |
| Hong, Y Kate; Park, SuHong; Litvina, Elizabeth Y et al. (2014) Refinement of the retinogeniculate synapse by bouton clustering. Neuron 84:332-9 |
| Hong, Y Kate; Kim, In-Jung; Sanes, Joshua R (2011) Stereotyped axonal arbors of retinal ganglion cell subsets in the mouse superior colliculus. J Comp Neurol 519:1691-711 |
