title: Putting the glue in glia: Necls mediate Schwann cell axon adhesion.
abstract: Interactions between Schwann cells and axons are critical for the development and function of myelinated axons. Two recent studies (see Maurel et al. on p. 861 of this issue; Spiegel et al., 2007) report that the nectin-like (Necl) proteins Necl-1 and -4 are internodal adhesion molecules that are critical for myelination. These studies suggest that Necl proteins mediate a specific interaction between Schwann cells and axons that allows proper communication of the signals that trigger myelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Julie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Perlin
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D011901:Ranvier's Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal