Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Genetics (Bridge Funding: Research Priorities)

In animals, cells exchange information between the neighboring cells in multiple interfaces. Gap junction is one of such interfaces that is formed between the two neighboring cells. Through gap junction, cells exchange small molecules and information to coordinate numerous biological and cellular processes. Gap junctions are composed of a group of proteins called connexins in vertebrates and innexins in invertebrates. In mammals, there is another group of gap junction proteins called pannexins. Interestingly, several works have shown that these gap junction proteins also control several biological processes independent of their function as gap junction components. We recently found that in the nerve cells, one of the gap junction proteins controls the position of synapses, which is a specialized interface that nerve cells use to communicate with their target cells. Nerve cells have to make synapses at the specific location within the cells for proper communication between the nerve cells and their target cells such as muscles. Abnormal synapse position due to the defective gap junction protein could, therefore, lead to serious neurological conditions. We aim at understanding how gap junction proteins control the position of synapses using nerve cells of nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a genetic model system. From our research, we will learn novel mechanisms by which nerve cells form precise neurocircuit.