"A muscle-epidermis-glia signaling axis sustains synaptic specificity during allometric growth in Caenorhabditiselegans”

Today in journal club, the lab discussed a recent study led by Daniel Colón- Ramos published in eLife, entitled “A muscle-epidermis-glia signaling axis sustains synaptic specificity during allometric growth in Caenorhabditis
elegans”.

Glia, genetic tools & confocal imaging in a model organism... All what we love, in one paper!!

As organisms grow to reach their adult size, organs and tissues have to scale up in size too. How do complex neural circuits and synapses that are established during embryogenesis maintain their precise position and
connectivity over such a dramatic change, is a fascinating question. Fan et al found that mig-17, a conserved ADAMTS metalloproteinase secreted from muscles, degrades basement membrane proteins and regulates glial
morphology and position in the worm brain. In turn, these glia that surround the nerve ring regulate synapse positions.

This study underscores the role of non-neuronal cells in maintaining synapse positions during allometric growth of the CNS and reminds us that glia are AWESOME!