Research Overview
Every thought or action we make relies upon our brain cells communicating through specialized types of connections called synapses. This fast communication can be electrical, mediated by neuronal gap junction channels, or chemical, mediated by neurotransmitters and receptors. While the structures that make up these different synapse types are distinct, we find that molecules exist to bridge their formation and seek to understand how a neuron molecularly specifies the correct type of synapse to build and support. Our work defines a new frontier by investigating synapse coordination: the mechanisms that direct the assembly of electrical and chemical synapses, how these processes overlap and compete, the importance of this coordination to long-term nervous system function/behavior, and how disruptions to coordination can reveal a new understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders. 

Tools and Techniques
For this investigation, larval zebrafish offer the perfect window into electrical and chemical synapse development via its genetic, cell biological, biochemical, and functional accessibility. The Martin Lab combines zebrafish with human cell lines and rodent models to test the roles of different genes in electrical and chemical synapse formation and unearth principles of synapse coordination.

Research Questions
How does Neurobeachin, a molecular bridge necessary for both electrical and chemical synapse formation, regulate distinct synapse assembly?

What other genes and molecular mechanisms coordinate electrical and chemical synapse populations?

How do disease-associated genetic perturbations alter these coordination pathways?

Selected Image
(Below) The larval zebrafish at five days old presents an exquisite view into electrical (cyan) and chemical (yellow) synapse formation. 

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