Institut de
Génomique
Fonctionnelle

We are studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of GABAergic inhibitory circuits formation in mammals. The specific wiring of neuronal circuits is achieved through complex mechanisms of neuritic growth and retraction, leading to development of characteristic patterns of axon branching, distributed over precise target domains. Interestingly, GABA interneuron axon arbors often have multiple side branches and follow convoluted paths, when compared to the axons of pyramidal neurons which follow near-linear trajectories. In addition, most interneuron axons have exuberant local branching, with which they can seek out specific cell types. However little is known about the signal that direct the development of GABAergic axons and innervation patterns. Which are the molecular components of cell type recognition ? Our long term goal is to combined both in vitro and in vivo approaches using BAC transgenic mice to decipher the molecular and cellular mechanism of GABAergic interneurons specific axon organization, cell type recognition and synapse formation in cerebellar cortex.