Louis Reichardt, PhD
Louis Reichardt, PhD
Extracellular Factors Affecting Neuron Development
My laboratory studies several interrelated topics in developmental neurobiology: neuronal survival, axon growth and pathfinding, and synapse formation. Trophic factors regulate each of these processes. Adhesion-promoting molecules in the extracellular matrix and on the surfaces of cells regulate axonal growth and differentiation at synapses. Some of these proteins are also important for maintaining the structure and function of the mature nervous system. Several may affect the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Selected Publications
Rico B, Xu B, and Reichardt LF. (2002) TrkB receptor signaling is required for the establishment of GABAergic synapses in the cerebellum. Nature Neuroscience 5:225-233.
Rico B, Beggs HE, Schahin-Reed D, Kimes N, Schmidt A, and Reichardt LF. (2004) Control of axonal branching and synapse formation by focal adhesion kinase. Nature Neuroscience 7:1059-1069.
Bamji SX, Rico B, Kimes N, and Reichardt LF. (2006) BDNF Mobilizes Synaptic Vesicles and Enhances Synapse Formation by Disrupting Cadherin/b-catenin Interactions. J. Cell. Biol. 174(2):289-99.
