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 Concept Videos

Structure of Cadherins01:25

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...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

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...
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Catenins01:23

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...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

The term desmosome derives from the Greek words "desmo" and "soma" meaning "adhesion bodies." This structure was first observed during the late 1800s and described as small, dense nodules in the epidermis. Desmosomes are button-like structures that help form an interlinked network of intermediate filaments across the cells. These junctions are  essential to hold cells together under mechanical stress and to maintain tissue integrity. Desmosomes are multi-protein complexes comprising desmosomal...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Altered Functional Responses of the Retina in B6 Albino Tyrc/c Mice.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2024
Same author

The Retinal Ganglion Cell Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration Consortium.

Ophthalmology science·2023
Same author

A Slc38a8 Mouse Model of FHONDA Syndrome Faithfully Recapitulates the Visual Deficits of Albinism Without Pigmentation Defects.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·2023
Same author

Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: a roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium.

Molecular neurodegeneration·2023
Same author

Semaphorin-6D and Plexin-A1 Act in a Non-Cell-Autonomous Manner to Position and Target Retinal Ganglion Cell Axons.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2023
Same author

Serotonin sensing by microglia conditions the proper development of neuronal circuits and of social and adaptive skills.

Molecular psychiatry·2023
Same journal

Fast-conducting mechanonociceptors uniquely engage reflexive and affective pain circuitry to drive protective responses.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Sparse component analysis: A method that uncovers separable computations within neural population activity.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Spatiomolecular mapping reveals anatomical organization of heterogeneous cell types in the human nucleus accumbens.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

TGF-β1-induced endothelial transcytosis drives blood-brain barrier leakage during aging.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Image space opens up for visual neuroscience.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Septal GLP-1 receptors control alcohol taking and seeking.

Neuron·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Cadherins as matchmakers.

Alexandra Rebsam1, Carol A Mason

  • 1INSERM, UMR-S 839, 75005 Paris, France. alexandra.rebsam@inserm.fr

Neuron
|August 27, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cadherins guide neural connections in mammals. Cadherin-6 refines retinal ganglion cell targeting, while cadherin-9 ensures hippocampal synapse specificity, confirming their roles in brain wiring.

More Related Videos

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction
17:14

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction

Published on: January 26, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
08:15

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Published on: October 17, 2014

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
10:34

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction
17:14

In vivo and in vitro Studies of Adaptor-clathrin Interaction

Published on: January 26, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cadherins are known to mediate afferent-target matching in invertebrates.
  • Establishing this concept in mammalian neural circuits has been challenging.

Discussion:

  • Two new studies demonstrate the function of cadherins in mammalian brain wiring.
  • Cadherin-6 plays a crucial role in retinal ganglion cell target selection.
  • Cadherin-9 is essential for promoting synapse specificity within the hippocampus.

Key Insights:

  • Cadherin-6 mediates specific connections between retinal ganglion cells and their targets.
  • Cadherin-9 ensures the precise formation of synapses in the hippocampus.
  • These findings provide the first concrete evidence of cadherin function in mammalian neural circuit assembly.

Outlook:

  • Further research can explore the precise molecular mechanisms of cadherin-6 and cadherin-9.
  • Investigating other cadherins may reveal additional roles in mammalian brain development.
  • Understanding these mechanisms could offer insights into developmental neurological disorders.