MU TUNING · Fine Tuning the Final Common Pathway: Molecular Determinants of Motor Unit Development and Plasticity

Motor neurons (MNs) constitute the final common pathway in the generation of behaviors by linking the CNS with the movement apparatus. Herein, MNs diversify into fast, intermediate and slow types whose properties are tuned to the speed, force and endurance of the muscle fiber contractions they elicit. The MN-muscle fiber units display marked plasticity towards chronically altered physical activity, and show strong differences in their vulnerability towards degenerative conditions affecting the neuromuscular system, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and aging. Despite their central importance for determining neuromuscular output, plasticity and vulnerability the molecular mechanisms determining the functional MN types remain unknown. My group will use a cross-disciplinary approach by employing molecular genetic, cell biological, electrophysiological and motor behavior assays in mouse and chick to dissect molecular pathways determining MN type status and their contribution to neuromuscular system function and plasticity. Based on our preliminary data, this will focus on the contribution of non-canonical Notch signaling to MN type-specification and neuromuscular function, in addition to four newly identified neural activity modulators as candidate effectors of motor unit output and plasticity. This will be complemented by screening additional pathway components for roles in determining MN type properties through newly developed rapid gene tagging and electrophysiological interrogation in chick, followed by addressing their requirement for motor unit specification and function in mouse. Through an iterative cycle of (i) investigating candidate determinants of motor unit type, (ii) defining their role and mode of action in motor unit specification and function in the context of the neuromuscular system, and (iii) identifying essential downstream components, the proposal will explore molecular pathways operating in motor unit specification, function and plasticity.