title: The formation of synapses in the central nervous system.
abstract: Intemeuronal synapses are specialized contact zones formed between the transmitting pole of one neuron, usually an axon, and the receptive pole of another nerve cell, usually a dendritic process or the soma. The formation of these synaptic contacts is the result of cellular events related to neurite elongation, the establishment of polarity, axon guidance, and target recognition. A series of morphological rearrangements takes place once synaptic targets establish their initial contact. These changes include the clustering of synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic element and the formation of a specialized area capable of signal transduction at the postsynaptic target. The present review discusses the role of different synaptic proteins in the cellular events leading to the formation of synapses among neurons in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago IL 60611, USA. a-ferreira@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paganoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D049030:Dystroglycans; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C483081:DAG1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D049030:Dystroglycans