ISSN:
0265-9247
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Recent experiments have begun to decipher the molecular dialog that mediates differentiation at sites of synaptic between neurons and their targets. It had been hypothesized that the protein agrin is released by axon terminals at embryonic neuromuscular junctions and binds to a receptor on the myofiber surface to trigger postsynaptic differentiation. Now a genetic ‘Knockout’ experiment has confirmed the essential role of agrin in signaling between developing nerve and muscle(1). A second ‘knockout’ has shown that the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK is a critical element in the agrin-induced signaling cascade(2). Additional results suggest that MuSK may comprise a portion of the agrin receptor(3).
Additional Material:
1 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bies.950181002
