Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

SynCAM, a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly.

Thomas Biederer1, Yildirim Sara, Marina Mozhayeva

  • 1Center for Basic Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Thomas.Biederer@UTSouthwestern.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 31, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Proteostasis and unfolded protein response dynamics in human neuron/mouse glia co-cultures reveal a cell-specific maturation response.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

A versatile nanobody platform for live and super-resolution imaging of synaptic vesicle dynamics and plasticity in rodent and human neurons.

Journal of nanobiotechnology·2026
Same author

Regulation of spontaneous neurotransmission and homeostatic synaptic plasticity by synaptotagmin-1 disease variants at the SNARE primary interface.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Regulation of tumor proliferation by unlocking silent synapses on metastatic cancer cells.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Nano-organization of the Synapse: A Requisite Framework for Synaptic Signaling.

Advances in neurobiology·2026
Same author

Functional Nano-segregation of Distinct Forms of Neurotransmission.

Advances in neurobiology·2026
Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave".

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Local signals, systemic decline.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

The mechanics of liver regeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Computing in a memory with physics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Retraction.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Making time.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

SynCAM, a brain-specific protein, acts as a cell adhesion molecule essential for synapse formation. Its expression in nonneuronal cells induced synapse assembly, demonstrating its crucial role in neuronal communication.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Synapses are crucial for neuronal communication, involving complex pre- and postsynaptic assembly.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of synapse formation is key to neuroscience research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SynCAM, a brain-specific protein, in synapse formation and function.
  • To determine if SynCAM acts as a cell adhesion molecule at the synapse.

Main Methods:

  • Studied SynCAM, an immunoglobulin domain-containing protein.
  • Examined SynCAM's interaction with intracellular PDZ-domain proteins.
  • Assessed the effects of SynCAM expression (full-length and cytoplasmic tail) on synapse assembly in neuronal and nonneuronal cells.
  • Reconstituted glutamatergic synaptic transmission in nonneuronal cells.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • SynCAM functions as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule at the synapse.
  • Expression of the SynCAM cytoplasmic tail inhibited synapse assembly in neurons.
  • Full-length SynCAM expression in nonneuronal cells induced synapse formation by cocultured hippocampal neurons.
  • Functional glutamatergic synaptic transmission was achieved by coexpressing glutamate receptors with SynCAM in nonneuronal cells.

Conclusions:

  • SynCAM is a key mediator of synapse assembly and function.
  • A single adhesion molecule (SynCAM) and receptor (glutamate receptor) can be sufficient for a functional postsynaptic response.
  • SynCAM plays a vital role in establishing synaptic connections in the brain.