Document Detail


N-cadherin signaling in synapse formation and neuronal physiology.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16954598     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Neural cadherin (N-cadherin) is an adhesion receptor that is localized in abundance at neuronto- neuron synapses. N-cadherin contains an extracellular domain that binds to other cadherins on juxtaposed cell membranes, a single-pass transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail that interacts with various proteins, including catenins, kinases, phosphatases, and presenilin 1. N-cadherin contributes to the structural and functional organization of the synaptic complex by ensuring the adhesion between synaptic membranes and organizing the underlying actin cytoskeleton. Additionally, recent findings have shown that N-cadherin may participate in synaptic physiology by regulating calcium influx through voltage-activated calcium currents. The diverse activities of N-cadherin stem from its ability to operate as both an adhesion molecule that links cytoskeletons across cell membranes and a ligand-activated homophilic receptor capable of initiating intracellular signaling. An important mechanism of cadherin signaling is the regulation of small Rho guanosine triphosphatase activity that affects cytoskeleton dynamics and calcium influx. Because both the regulation of cadherin adhesive activity and cadherin-mediated signaling are affected by the binding of molecules to the intracellular domain, changes in the composition of the N-cadherin complex are central to the regulation of cadherin-mediated functions. This article focuses on the roles that N-cadherin might play at the level of the synapse through its effect on adhesion and signaling in the proximity of the synaptic junction.
Authors:
Juan L Brusés
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Molecular neurobiology     Volume:  33     ISSN:  0893-7648     ISO Abbreviation:  Mol. Neurobiol.     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-09-06     Completed Date:  2007-02-05     Revised Date:  2007-12-03    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8900963     Medline TA:  Mol Neurobiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  237-52     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA. jbruses@kumc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Cadherins / metabolism*
Membrane Potentials / physiology
Models, Molecular
Neurons / cytology,  physiology*
Signal Transduction / physiology*
Synapses / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
NS40300/NS/NINDS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Cadherins

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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