title: Delta-catenin at the synaptic-adherens junction.
abstract: Delta-catenin belongs to the p120-catenin (p120(ctn)) protein family, which is characterized by ten, characteristically spaced Armadillo repeats that bind to the juxtamembrane segment of the classical cadherins. Delta-catenin is the only member of this family that is expressed specifically in neurons, where it binds to PDZ domain proteins in the post-synaptic compartment. As a component of both adherens and synaptic junctions, delta-catenin can link the adherens junction to the synapse and, thereby, coordinate synaptic input with changes in the adherens junction. By virtue of its restriction to the post-synaptic area, delta-catenin creates an asymmetric adherens junction in the region of the synapse. The crucial nature of the specialized function of delta-catenin in neurons is demonstrated by a targeted gene mutation, which causes deficits in learning and in synaptic plasticity. Taken together, recent evidence indicates that delta-catenin is a sensor of synaptic activity and implements activity-related morphological changes at the synapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. kosik@lifesci.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kosik
authors.forename: Christine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: Inbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Israely
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tomoyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochiishi
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D000095002:Delta Catenin
chemical_list: D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins; D000095002:Delta Catenin