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Cadherins in Tissue Organization

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...

Structure of Cadherins

Structure of Cadherins

The cadherins were one of the first cell adhesion molecules discovered; the term “cadherins” is based on their calcium-dependent adhering properties. The first cadherins discovered on the epithelial, neuronal, and placental cells were named E-cadherin, P-cadherin, and N-cadherin, respectively. These classical cadherins share sequence and structural similarities. Other cadherins, including those involved in cell signaling, are grouped into non-classical cadherins. This diversity of cadherins...

Catenins

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

Cadherins and synaptic plasticity.

Chin-Yin Tai¹, Sally A Kim, Erin M Schuman

¹Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. taic@caltech.edu

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

|July 8, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cadherins are crucial for synaptic plasticity, which underlies learning and memory. These cell adhesion molecules help stabilize AMPA receptors at synapses, influencing brain function.

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3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

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Published on: May 18, 2020

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A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules with roles in synaptic structure and function.
Synaptic plasticity, essential for learning and memory, involves changes in synaptic function.
Cadherins' unique properties position them to mediate synaptic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of cadherins in synaptic plasticity.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which cadherins influence synaptic structure and function.
To explore the interaction between cadherins and postsynaptic signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

Utilizing small interfering RNA (siRNA) for cadherin knockdown.
Employing N-cadherin-deficient embryonic stem cells.
Disrupting cadherin function in vivo using peptide application.

Main Results:

Cadherins may recruit and stabilize AMPA receptors at the synapse.
Evidence suggests cross-talk between postsynaptic signaling and cadherin-mediated adhesion.
Molecular mechanisms of cadherin involvement in structural and functional plasticity were dissected.

Conclusions:

Cadherins play a significant role in mediating synaptic plasticity.
Their function is critical for both the structure and function of synapses.
Understanding cadherin mechanisms offers insights into learning and memory processes.