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Timing mechanisms in neuronal pathfinding, synaptic reorganization, and neuronal regeneration
Author(s) -
Ivakhnitskaia Evguenia,
Hamada Kana,
Chang Chieh
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/dgd.12259
Subject(s) - neuroscience , biology , caenorhabditis elegans , regulator , pathfinding , rna , gene , genetics , computer science , graph , theoretical computer science , shortest path problem
Precise temporal control of neuro differentiation and post‐differentiation events are necessary for the creation of appropriate wiring diagram in the brain. To make advances in the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and traumatic brain injury, it is important to understand these mechanisms. Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a revolutionary tool for the study of neural circuits due to its genetic homology to vertebrates and ease of genetic manipulation. micro RNA (mi RNA ), a ubiquitous class of small non‐coding RNA , that inhibits the expression of target genes, has emerged as an important timing control molecule through research conducted on C. elegans . This review will focus on the temporal control of neurodifferentiation and post‐differentiation events exerted by two conserved mi RNA s, lin‐4 and let‐7 . We summarize recent findings on the role of lin‐4 as a timing regulator controlling transition of sequential events in neuronal pathfinding and synaptic remodeling, and the role of let‐7 as a timing regulator that limits the regeneration potential of post‐differentiated AVM neurons as they age.