
pmid: 15540461
Neuroligins are cell adhesion proteins that are thought to instruct the formation and alignment of synaptic specializations. The three known rodent neuroligin isoforms share homologous extracellular acetylcholinesterase-like domains that bridge the synaptic cleft and bind beta-neurexins. All neuroligins have identical intracellular C-terminal motifs that bind to PDZ domains of various target proteins. Neuroligin 1 is specifically localized to glutamatergic postsynaptic specializations. We show here that neuroligin 2 is exclusively localized to inhibitory synapses in rat brain and dissociated neurons. In immature neurons, neuroligin 2 is found at synapses and also at GABAA receptor aggregates that are not facing presynaptic termini, indicating that postsynaptic mechanisms lead to synaptic recruitment of neuroligin 2. Our findings identify neuroligin 2 as a new cell adhesion protein specific for inhibitory synapses and open new avenues for identifiying the constituents of this unique type of postsynaptic specialization.
Neuronal, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, Messenger, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Cell Line, Mice, Chlorocebus aethiops, Animals, Humans, Developmental, RNA, Messenger, Neurons, [SDV.NEU.NB] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Neurobiology, Brain, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Membrane Proteins, Neural Inhibition, Rats, Gene Expression Regulation, COS Cells, Synapses, RNA, Cell Adhesion Molecules
Neuronal, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, Messenger, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Cell Line, Mice, Chlorocebus aethiops, Animals, Humans, Developmental, RNA, Messenger, Neurons, [SDV.NEU.NB] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Neurobiology, Brain, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Membrane Proteins, Neural Inhibition, Rats, Gene Expression Regulation, COS Cells, Synapses, RNA, Cell Adhesion Molecules
| citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 479 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 1% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |
