Synaptic malfunction and dysregulation have been observed in normal aging and different forms of neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (Burke and Barnes, 2006; Morrison and Baxter, 2012; Samuel et al., 2014). Synaptic deficit, in the form of ectopic synapse or synaptic remodeling, has also been observed in the retinas of both degenerative and aged humans and animal models (Liets et al., 2006; Samuel et al., 2011; Soto and Kerschensteiner, 2015). Importantly, these synaptic changes often precede neuron degeneration suggesting that changes in synaptic structure and function are a major part of the early cellular events leading to neuron death. Our goal is to identify the key regulators in the synaptic remodeling process and target the identified key molecules/pathways with the hope that strengthening the resilience of remaining synapses could maintain/prolong neural circuit function in neurodegenerative settings.
