Developmental and age-related synapse elimination is mediated by glial Croquemort.

Glial Croquemort (Crq) is essential for synapse elimination during Drosophila development and prevents age-related synaptic loss in adults.

• Why it matters: Understanding how glia regulate synapse dynamics is crucial for insights into neural circuit development and aging, yet the molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined.
• What they did: Using a high-throughput ELISA-based in vivo screening in Drosophila, the study identified Crq as a conserved glial gene that controls synapse numbers, with loss of Crq causing excess synapses and seizure susceptibility.
• The result: Loss of glial Crq impairs developmental synapse elimination and prevents age-related synaptic loss, highlighting Crq as a key regulator of synapse maintenance across the lifespan.