Synaptic cell adhesion goes functional.
A growing number of candidate genes has been implicated in linking the two sides of a synapse but definitive proof of a specific role for many of them is still scarce. Exploiting the vast amount of sequence data, a novel family of homophilic synaptic cell-adhesion molecules (SynCAMs) has now been identified in mice. SynCAMs are evolutionarily related to invertebrate immunoglobulin-like (Ig)-domain proteins and they promote the formation and differentiation of functional synapses in vitro.
Missler
Markus
M
Zentrum Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Georg-August Universität, 37073 Göttingen, Germany. mmissle1@gwdg.de
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
C465040:Cadm1 protein, rat; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins