SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly

Thomas Biederer; Yildirim Sara; Marina Mozhayeva; Deniz Atasoy; Xinran Liu; Ege T Kavalali; Thomas C Südhof

doi:10.1126/science.1072356

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SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly

Journal article

Peer reviewed

SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly

Thomas Biederer, Yildirim Sara, Marina Mozhayeva, Deniz Atasoy, Xinran Liu, Ege T Kavalali and Thomas C Südhof

Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.297(5586), pp.1525-1531

08/30/2002

DOI: 10.1126/science.1072356

PMID: 12202822

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Abstract

Synapses, the junctions between nerve cells through which they communicate, are formed by the coordinated assembly and tight attachment of pre- and postsynaptic specializations. We now show that SynCAM is a brain-specific, immunoglobulin domain-containing protein that binds to intracellular PDZ-domain proteins and functions as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule at the synapse. Expression of the isolated cytoplasmic tail of SynCAM in neurons inhibited synapse assembly. Conversely, expression of full-length SynCAM in nonneuronal cells induced synapse formation by cocultured hippocampal neurons with normal release properties. Glutamatergic synaptic transmission was reconstituted in these nonneuronal cells by coexpressing glutamate receptors with SynCAM, which suggests that a single type of adhesion molecule and glutamate receptor are sufficient for a functional postsynaptic response.

Transfection

Cell Adhesion Molecules - chemistry

Cell Adhesion Molecules - physiology

Synaptic Transmission - physiology

Coculture Techniques

Humans

Molecular Sequence Data

Prosencephalon - physiology

Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - physiology

Exocytosis

Prosencephalon - chemistry

Brain - physiology

Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism

Cell Adhesion Molecules - isolation & purification

Neurons - physiology

Synapses - chemistry

Protein Structure, Tertiary

Amino Acid Sequence

Cell Line

Brain - cytology

Immunoglobulins

Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - chemistry

Receptors, AMPA - physiology

Synapses - physiology

Rats

Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - isolation & purification

Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Animals

Brain Chemistry

Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Details

Title: Subtitle: SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly
Creators: Thomas Biederer - Center for Basic Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Thomas.Biederer@UTSouthwestern.edu
Yildirim Sara
Marina Mozhayeva
Deniz Atasoy
Xinran Liu
Ege T Kavalali
Thomas C Südhof
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.297(5586), pp.1525-1531
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1126/science.1072356
PMID: 12202822
ISSN: 0036-8075
eISSN: 1095-9203
Language: English
Date published: 08/30/2002
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Record Identifier: 9984040351902771

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