Synaptogenesis: a balancing act between excitation and inhibition.
Recent studies have implicated a number of membrane-associated proteins, including the signaling pair neuroligin and beta-neurexin, in synapse formation, suggesting that they govern the ratio of inhibitory and excitatory synapses on CNS neurons. These findings, together with data indicating that the genes encoding neuroligin and PSD95 are altered in autism patients, suggest that a molecular understanding of complex neurological diseases is within reach.
Cline
Hollis
H
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY 11724, USA. cline@cshl.org
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C501444:DLG4 protein, human; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C093438:neuroligin 1; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins; C086959:neurexin Ibeta