Intracellular signaling in neurons: unraveling specificity, compensatory mechanisms and essential gene function

Understanding how unique signaling outputs are generated in neurons using a limited set of intracellular signaling mechanisms has been a challenge. A combination of genetics and cell imaging, with tools developed to measure signaling outputs, has shown that the restricted presence of a signaling attenuator visibly alters the axonal range of the output and can be correlated with different behavioral outputs. Another question of interest is regarding the extent of genetic plasticity possible in the context of a single behavioral change. Recent molecular and genetic studies support the presence of parallel pathways that can compensate for the primary defect both at the level of physiology and behavior.

► GPCR signaling can be differentially localized within a brain region. ► Differential localization can be attributed to the presence of signaling complexes. ► Signaling complexes can have different signal attenuating properties. ► Essential signaling mechanisms can be compensated through multiple pathways. ► The molecular nature of compensatory pathways are fairly divergent.