Transcriptional basis of stereotyped neural architectures
ABSTRACT Recent advances in high-resolution volumetric imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing have enabled the characterization of neuronal diversity and the genetic programs that specify identity. Meanwhile, our understanding of the diversity of synapses and their genetic underpinnings remains limited. Decoding the genetic programs responsible for the formation and maintenance of neural architectures can help us understand the functional role of synapses in the brain and offer entry points towards designing genetic targets for the treatment of mental health disorders related to brain connectivity. Based on the evidence of conservation of neural architectures in a wide range of neural systems and strong preliminary results in C. elegans, I hypothesize that synaptic connectivity is genetically encoded. Specifically, I hypothesize that complimentary gene combinations specify pre-synaptic neurons and their post-synaptic neural partners (resembling a "key-and-lock" combination). Single-c