Synaptic target recognition at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions

Every synaptogenesis begins with "synaptic target recognition," a cell-cell recognition event in which a neuron and its target stably adhere. Despite its importance in developing nervous systems, synaptic target recognition h as been difficult to study in complex systems. The relatively simple and ge netically accessible Drosophila NMJ model system provides a repertoire of t arget recognition cues. We describe how these molecules control the targeti ng of specific growth cones in either a positive (synaptogenic) or negative (anti-synaptogenic) manner. We also propose two alternate signaling paradi gms to explain how these initial cell recognition events are coupled to the intracellular signaling pathways that begin the process of synapse maturat ion. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:3-13, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.