Synapses are the sites of neuron-to-neuron communication and form the basis of the neural circuits that underlie all animal cognition and behavior. Chemical synapses are specialized asymmetric junctions between a presynaptic neuron and a postsynaptic target that form through a series of diverse cellular and subcellular events under the control of complex signaling networks. Once established, the synapse facilitates neurotransmission by mediating the organization and fusion of synaptic vesicles and must also retain the ability to undergo plastic changes. In recent years, synaptic genes have been implicated in a wide array of neurodevelopmental disorders; the individual and societal burdens imposed by these disorders, as well as the lack of effective therapies, motivates continued work on fundamental synapse biology. The properties and functions of the nervous system are remarkably conserved across animal phyla, and many insights into the synapses of the vertebrate central nervous system have been derived from studies of invertebrate models. A prominent model synapse is the Drosophila melanogaster larval neuromuscular junction, which bears striking similarities to the glutamatergic synapses of the vertebrate brain and spine; further advantages include the simplicity and experimental versatility of the fly, as well as its century-long history as a model organism. Here, we survey findings on the major events in synaptogenesis, including target specification, morphogenesis, and the assembly and maturation of synaptic specializations, with a emphasis on work conducted at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

中文翻译：

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果蝇神经肌肉接头处的突触发育和成熟。

突触是神经元与神经元之间交流的场所，是构成所有动物认知和行为基础的神经回路的基础。化学突触是突触前神经元和突触后靶标之间的特殊不对称连接，在复杂信号网络的控制下通过一系列不同的细胞和亚细胞事件形成。一旦建立，突触通过介导突触囊泡的组织和融合来促进神经传递，并且还必须保持经历塑性变化的能力。近年来，突触基因与多种神经发育障碍有关。这些疾病给个人和社会带来的负担，以及缺乏有效的治疗方法，促使人们继续研究基本的突触生物学。神经系统的特性和功能在动物门中非常保守，并且对脊椎动物中枢神经系统突触的许多见解都来自对无脊椎动物模型的研究。一个突出的模型突触是黑腹果蝇幼虫神经肌肉接头，它与脊椎动物大脑和脊柱的谷氨酸能突触有着惊人的相似之处；进一步的优势包括苍蝇的简单性和实验多功能性，以及它作为模式生物的百年历史。在这里，我们调查了突触发生中主要事件的发现，包括目标规范、形态发生以及突触特化的组装和成熟，重点是在果蝇神经肌肉接头处进行的工作。