Neuroscience and Neurotechnology of Neuronal Cell Surface Molecules in Neural Circuits

Myriads of specialized neurons and glial cells interact with each other in the nervous system. In this Research Topic, we focus on an array of cell surface molecules which are quintessential for such interaction in the nervous system. They play roles in the development and regeneration of neural circuits (E.g. membrane receptors, extracellular matrices, adhesion molecules), and in the function of neural circuits (E.g. neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels). The structure, amount, and localization of these molecules are changed in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. They are also instrumental in studying neural circuits by building and over-expressing synthetic membrane proteins (E.g. channel-rhodopsin in optogenetics, adhesion molecules in GRASP).

We encourage submissions of a wide range of original research, method, hypothesis, algorithms, and review articles on neuronal cell surface molecules, especially cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix, and neurotransmitter receptors at synapses. We hope that this Topic will harness new ideas in molecular and cellular neurobiology, and help devise innovative tools for biochemistry, physiology, and imaging for studying structure and function of the nervous system.