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Commentary & View

Ligand-induced Cell Adhesion as a New Mechanism to Promote Synapse Formation

Fernanda Ledda

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The formation of neuronal synapses is a finely organized process that involves the presynaptic assembly of the machinery responsible for neurotransmitter release and the postsynaptic recruitment of neurotransmitter receptors and scaffold proteins to the postsynaptic density (PSD). The molecular cues guiding the establishment of synaptic connections are now beginning to be identified. Recent evidences indicate that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) participate prominently in the key steps of synapse formation, inducing trans-synaptic adhesion and promoting a precise alignment of pre- and postsynaptic terminals. This addendum describes a new mechanism of cell-cell interaction that combines features of both diffusible and membrane-bound synaptogenic factors. It particularly points out the key role played by GDNF triggering trans-homophilic binding between GFRα1 molecules and cell adhesion between GFRα1-expressing cells. In this model GFRα1 functions as a ligand-induced cell adhesion molecule (LICAM) to establish precise synaptic contacts and promote the assembly of presynaptic terminals. In this overview, I summarize the current concepts of synapse formation in the limelight of this new mechanism of ligand-induced cell adhesion.

Authors

Fernanda Ledda

Karolinska Institute; Stockholm, Sweden

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