Cadherins and Catenins at Synapses: Roles in Synaptogenesis and Synaptic Plasticity

Overview

Journal Trends Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2008 Aug 8

PMID 18684518

Citations 153

Authors

Jyothi Arikkath

Louis F Reichardt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Synapse formation involves reciprocal interactions between cells resulting in formation of a structure optimized for efficient information transfer. Recent work has implicated constituents of the cadherin-catenin cell-adhesion complex in both synapse formation and plasticity. In this review, we describe recent interesting discoveries on mechanisms of cadherin complex function, in addition to regulating adhesion, that are relevant for understanding the role of this complex in synaptogenesis and plasticity. We describe how this complex acts via (i) recruitment/stabilization of intracellular partners; (ii) regulation of intracellular signaling pathways; (iii) regulation of cadherin surface levels, stability and turnover; (iv) stabilization of receptors; and (v) regulation of gene expression. These exciting discoveries provide insights into novel functional roles of the complex beyond regulating cell adhesion.

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