title: Higher-order architecture of cell adhesion mediated by polymorphic synaptic adhesion molecules neurexin and neuroligin.
abstract: Polymorphic adhesion molecules neurexin and neuroligin (NL) mediate asymmetric trans-synaptic adhesion, which is crucial for synapse development and function. It is not known whether or how individual synapse function is controlled by the interactions between variants and isoforms of these molecules with differing ectodomain regions. At a physiological concentration of Ca(2+), the ectodomain complex of neurexin-1 β isoform (Nrx1β) and NL1 spontaneously assembled into crystals of a lateral sheet-like superstructure topologically compatible with transcellular adhesion. Correlative light-electron microscopy confirmed extracellular sheet formation at the junctions between Nrx1β- and NL1-expressing non-neuronal cells, mimicking the close, parallel synaptic membrane apposition. The same NL1-expressing cells, however, did not form this higher-order architecture with cells expressing the much longer neurexin-1 α isoform, suggesting a functional discrimination mechanism between synaptic contacts made by different isoforms of neurexin variants.
authors: Laboratory of Protein Synthesis and Expression, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Tanaka
authors: Naoyuki
authors: N
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Kyoko
authors: K
authors: Matoba
authors: Terukazu
authors: T
authors: Nogi
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Iwasaki
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Takagi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; C547193:Nrxn1 protein, rat; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; C093438:neuroligin 1; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins