Title
FASt remodeling of synapses in Drosophila
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Neurobiology
Date
10-2003
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Animals; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Synapses
Disciplines
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Abstract
Cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgCAMS) play pivotal roles during synapse development and remodeling, being required in both activity-dependent and activity independent aspects of these processes. Recent advances using the fruit fly neuromuscular junction, as well as the mollusk Aplysia californica, have provided evidence for at least three mechanisms by which levels of IgCAMs are regulated during synapse remodeling--activity-dependent regulation of IgCAM clustering by PSD-95-type molecules, IgCAM internalization by MAP kinase pathway activation, and postsynaptic IgCAM exocytosis. These studies offer convincing evidence that synaptic cell adhesion brings about both negative and positive forces that stabilize synapses, while maintaining their ability to change in an activity-dependent manner.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2003 Oct;13(5):527-34.