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[S8]: The role of cadherins in coordinating CNS synapse structure and function
Author(s) -
Benson D.L.,
Elste A.M.,
Anderson T.R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2006.09.011
Subject(s) - mount , editorial board , neuroscience , center (category theory) , citation , brain function , psychology , cognitive science , library science , computer science , chemistry , crystallography , operating system
genes and regulated by alternative splicing. Accumulating evidence supports a selective role of neuroligin-2 at GABA synapses, and neuroligin-1 at glutamate synapses. The contribution of neurexin variation to synapse development is particularly intriguing, with no fewer than 3908 potential neurexin isoforms. The majority of studies to date have been performed with neurexin-1-b lacking an insert at splice site 4 (S4). The S4 splice site is of particular interest because it is present in the LNS domain thatmediates binding to neuroligins andmediates synaptogenic activity. Addition of the 30 aa insert at S4 selectively reduces the binding of neurexin-1-b to neuroligins-1 and -4 and reduces the recruitment of neuroligin1/3/4 and PSD-95 but not neuroligin-2 or gephyrin in a neuron coculture assay. In recent work, we have been focusing on the role of a-neurexins in promoting postsynaptic differentiation. Our studies suggest that neurexins and neuroligins may be more important for promoting the assembly or stability of GABA synapses than glutamate synapses, and/or for controlling their balance.