Figure 5.2.

MET receptor tyrosine kinase as a synaptic player that balances neuronal growth, synaptic plasticity, and functional maturation. The expression of MET protein in the developing brain is tightly regulated in both spatial and temporal domains. MET expression is turned on during the perinatal period in mouse and peaks during the period of extensive neurite growth and synaptogenesis. This suggests that MET-mediated signaling plays a role in these early processes of brain development (green arrows). MET protein is dramatically reduced as the brain circuits undergo functional maturation and synaptic plasticity (red ticks). Disturbances of MET signaling, such as carrying a hypofunctional MET allele, could have detrimental effects in the protracted neuronal developmental timeline and contribute to impaired circuit function in the adult brain.