Alternative splicing of neuroligin and its protein distribution in the outer plexiform layer of the chicken retina.

ABSTRACT: Although synaptogenesis within the retina is obviously essential for vision, mechanisms responsible for the initiation and maintenance of retinal synapses are poorly understood. In addition to its scientific interest, understanding retinal synapse formation is becoming clinically relevant with ongoing efforts to develop transplantation-based approaches for the treatment of retinal degenerative disease. To extend our understanding, we have focused on the chick model system and have studied the neuroligin family of neuronal adhesion factors that has been shown to participate in synapse assembly in the brain. We identified chicken orthologs of neuroligins 1, -3, and -4, but could find no evidence of neuroligin 2. We investigated temporal and spatial patterns of mRNA and protein expression dur

SUBMITTER: Wahlin KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4065168 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature