biostudies-literatureThompson-Peer KLNIMH NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHSWellcome Trust453-65https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3278716biostudies-literatureUnknown73(3)During development, circuits are refined by the dynamic addition and removal of synapses; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that dictate where and when synaptic refinement occurs. Here we describe transcriptional mechanisms that pattern remodeling of C. elegans neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The embryonic GABAergic DD motor neurons remodel their synapses, whereas the later born VD neurons do not. This specificity is mediated by differential expression of a transcription factor (HBL-1), which is expressed in DD neurons but is repressed in VDs by UNC-55/COUP-TF. DD remodeling is delayed in hbl-1 mutants whereas precocious remodeling is observed in mutants lacking the microRNA mir-84, which inhibits hbl-1 expression. Mutations increasing and decreasing circuit activity NeuronHBL-1 patterns synaptic remodeling in C. elegans.PMC3278716NS32196R37 NS032196-18R01 NS032196R37 NS032196R37 NS032196-19R37 NS032196-16K99MH085039R37 NS032196-17K99 MH085039R37 NS032196-17S1R00 MH085039Hu ZKaplan JMThompson-Peer KLBai JfalseHBL-1 patterns synaptic remodeling in C. elegans.During development, circuits are refined by the dynamic addition and removal of synapses; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that dictate where and when synaptic refinement occurs. Here we describe transcriptional mechanisms that pattern remodeling of C. elegans neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The embryonic GABAergic DD motor neurons remodel their synapses, whereas the later born VD neurons do not. This specificity is mediated by differential expression of a transcription factor (HBL-1), which is expressed in DD neurons but is repressed in VDs by UNC-55/COUP-TF. DD remodeling is delayed in hbl-1 mutants whereas precocious remodeling is observed in mutants lacking the microRNA mir-84, which inhibits hbl-1 expression. Mutations increasing and decreasing circuit activity 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z2012 Feb2025-04-04T21:05:30.199Z2019-03-27T00:49:07ZS-EPMC32787162232519910.1016/j.neuron.2011.11.025