[BK21 Plus Seminar]
             
                
            ▶Subject: Synaptic Adhesion Complexes:  From Molecular Recognition Tags to Autism
              
            ▶Speaker: Prof. Peter Scheiffele (Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland

                      
            ▶Date: 4:00PM/Nov.11(Wed.)/2015
               
            ▶Place: Room 401, Chemisty Bldg.
              
                    *Abctract
                  The assembly of functional neuronal circuits during development relies on an intricate interplay of cellular interactions, molecular recognition signals, and neuronal activity-dependent processes. Over the past 20 years, families of neuronal cell surface receptors have been identified that may exhibit remarkable molecular diversity. This diversity has been hypothesized to underlie selective trans-cellular interactions and cell-type specific properties, providing a molecular code for aspects of neuronal identity.  We will discuss recent studies uncovering the molecular coding power of neurexins, one class of polymorphic synaptic receptors. Using a third generation sequencing approach we demonstrate that there are more than 1,000 discrete isoforms expressed in the mouse brain that are linked to the genetic identity of neuronal cell populations.  In human patients, mutations in neurexins and their binding partners are associated with autism spectrum disorders. We demonstrate that mutant mice recapitulating such mutations exhibit significant alterations in social behavior that can be partially reverted by targeting neuronal signaling defects.

                 
           ▶Inquiry: Prof. Joung-Hun Kim (279-2347) 
       
              * This seminar will be given in English.
          please refrain from taking photos during seminars. *