Synapses constitute highly specialized sites of asymmetric cell-cell adhesion and intercellular communication. Its formation involves the recruitment of presynaptic and postsynaptic molecules at newly formed contacts. Synapse assembly and maintenance invokes heterophilic presynaptic and postsynaptic transmembrane proteins that bind each other in the extracellular space and recruit additional proteins via their intracellular domains. Members of the cadherin and immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamilies are thought to mediate this function. Several molecules, including synaptic cell-adhesion molecule (SynCAM), N-cadherin, neural cell-adhesion molecule (NCAM), Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, and neuroligins and neurexins, have been implicated in synapse formation and maintenance (Dean & Dresbach 2006, Craig et al. 2006, Craig & Kang 2007, Sudhof 2008).
McClelland, AC, Dalva, MB, Kayser, MS
Dresbach, T, Dean, C
Südhof, TC
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