N-cadherin: stabilizing synapses.
Spines are sites of excitatory synapse formation in central neurons. Alterations in spine structure and function are widely believed to actively contribute to the cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. In this issue, Mendez et al. (2010. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.201003007) demonstrate a pivotal role for the cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin in activity-mediated spine stabilization, offering a new mechanism for how spine dynamics and stability are regulated by activity in central neurons.
Arikkath
Jyothi
J
Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. jyothi.arikkath@ucsf.edu
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules