Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction: Molecular components and mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity

Understanding the mechanisms that mediate synaptic plasticity is a primary goal of molecular neuroscience. The Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctio n provides a particularly useful model for investigating the roles of synap tic components in both structural and functional plasticity. The powerful m olecular genetics of this system makes it possible to uncover new synaptic components and signaling molecules, as well as their function in the intact organism. Together with the mouse hippocampus and Aplysia dissociated cell culture, the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction has been among the m ost valuable model systems for examining the molecular and cellular basis o f neuronal plasticity. Microsc. Res. Tech, 49:14-25, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-L iss, Inc.