Neurexin and Neuroligin Mediate Retrograde Synaptic Inhibition in C. elegans

Keep on Neurexin Mutations altering neurexin and neuroligin have been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. However, it remains uncertain how these mutations alter neural circuit development and function. Working in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , Hu et al. (p. 980 , published online 2 August) found that neurexin and neuroligin function downstream of a muscle microRNA (miR-1), mediating a retrograde synaptic signal that inhibits neurotransmitter release. This retrograde signal inhibited transmission by adjusting the rate and duration of synaptic vesicle release.