| Literature DB >> 24762652 |
Wu-Lin Charng1, Shinya Yamamoto2, Hugo J Bellen3.
Abstract
Signaling pathways and cellular processes that regulate neural development are used post-developmentally for proper function and maintenance of the nervous system. Genes that have been studied in the context of the development of Drosophila peripheral nervous system (PNS) and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) have been identified as players in the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases, including spinocerebellar ataxia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and spinal muscular atrophy. Hence, by unraveling the molecular mechanisms that underlie proneural induction, cell fate determination, axonal targeting, dendritic branching, and synapse formation in Drosophila, novel features related to these disorders have been revealed. In this review, we summarize and discuss how studies of Drosophila PNS and NMJ development have provided guidance in experimental approaches for these diseases.Entities:
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Year: 2014 PMID: 24762652 PMCID: PMC4122633 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2014.03.001
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Curr Opin Neurobiol ISSN: 0959-4388 Impact factor: 6.627