Retrograde regulation of presynaptic development during synaptogenesis.

Major advances are occurring in our understanding of the events leading to synapse formation. Contact between the growth cone and target tissue leads to intercellular signaling which controls both pre- and postsynaptic development of the synapse. The identity of retrograde signals that regulate presynaptic development are beginning to emerge, and the signal transduction cascades that are activated presynaptically are being characterized. Recent studies have shown that both the resting calcium level and activation of presynaptic protein kinase A are critical in the development of the presynaptic terminal. An understanding of these regulatory mechanisms is beginning to provide insight into the molecular control of synaptic specificity.