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Presenilin (PS) is named and well known for its correlation with Alzheimer’s disease, however, it is now known to carry out a myriad of functions that are important during development. It is the catalytic component of γ-secretase, thus is responsible for cleaving a wide range of substrates that are crucial for many phases of nervous system development, including neurogenesis, differentiation, and axon guidance. This suggests a global and multifaceted role for this molecule in the proper development.
By using Xenopus tadpole retinotectal projection, a model system ideally suited for studying neural circuit development, we will study the role of PS in this developing visual system, in vivo, at the cell, circuit, and behavioral levels.
