Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Induction of Adhesion-dependent Signals Using Low-intensity Ultrasound
Published on: May 8, 2012
In vivo induction of postsynaptic molecular assembly by the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin2
Hiroshi Kohsaka1, Etsuko Takasu, Akinao Nose
1Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Abstract:
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are thought to mediate interactions between innervating axons and their targets. However, such interactions have not been directly observed in vivo. In this paper, we study the function and dynamics of Fasciclin2 (Fas2), a homophilic CAM expressed both pre- and postsynaptically during neuromuscular synapse formation in Drosophila melanogaster. We apply live imaging of functional fluorescent fusion proteins expressed in muscles and find that Fas2 and Discs-Large (Dlg; a scaffolding protein known to bind Fas2) accumulate at the synaptic contact site soon after the arrival of the nerve. Genetic, deletion, and photobleaching analyses suggest that Fas2-mediated trans-synaptic adhesion is important for the postsynaptic accumulation of both Fas2 itself and Dlg. In fas2 mutants, many aspects of synapse formation appear normal; however, we see a reduction in the synaptic accumulation of Scribble (another scaffolding protein) and glutamate receptor subunits GluRIIA and GluRIIB. We propose that Fas2 mediates trans-synaptic adhesion, which contributes to postsynaptic molecular assembly at the onset of synaptogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...

