Molecules and Cells

Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (한국분자세포생물학회)
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Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Motor Axon Guidance in Drosophila

  • Jeong, Sangyun (Division of Life Sciences (Molecular Biology Major), Department of Bioactive Material Sciences, and Research Center of Bioactive Materials, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Received : 2021.05.18
  • Accepted : 2021.07.02
  • Published : 2021.08.31
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Abstract

Decoding the molecular mechanisms underlying axon guidance is key to precise understanding of how complex neural circuits form during neural development. Although substantial progress has been made over the last three decades in identifying numerous axon guidance molecules and their functional roles, little is known about how these guidance molecules collaborate to steer growth cones to their correct targets. Recent studies in Drosophila point to the importance of the combinatorial action of guidance molecules, and further show that selective fasciculation and defasciculation at specific choice points serve as a fundamental strategy for motor axon guidance. Here, I discuss how attractive and repulsive guidance cues cooperate to ensure the recognition of specific choice points that are inextricably linked to selective fasciculation and defasciculation, and correct pathfinding decision-making.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MIST) (2018R1A2B6008037), and research funds of Jeonbuk National University in 2019.

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