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Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...

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...

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

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...

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions

Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...

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Updated: May 12, 2026

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer

Published on: April 23, 2017

Cell adhesion and homeostatic synaptic plasticity.

Agnes Thalhammer¹, Lorenzo A Cingolani¹

¹Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.

Neuropharmacology

|April 2, 2013

Summary

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are crucial for synaptic plasticity, regulating neuronal communication and network activity. This review explores their role in homeostatic synaptic plasticity across different synapse types.

Keywords:

2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid receptor ADAM AMPAR BDNF CAM CDK5 CaMKIV Cadherin Catenin Cdk5 Cell adhesion ECM Eph receptor GABA GAP GEF GTPase-activating protein GluA2 Homeostatic synaptic plasticity Integrin LTD LTP MHC Major histocompatibility complex N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor NMDAR Neurexin PDZ Rap Release probability Synaptic scaling TNFα a disintegrin and metalloprotease brain-derived neurotrophic factor calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV cell adhesion molecules cyclin-dependent kinase 5 extracellular matrix gamma-aminobutyric acid guanine nucleotide exchange factor long-term depression long-term potentiation postsynaptic density protein/Drosophila disc large tumor suppressor/zonula occludens-1 protein tumor necrosis factor alpha

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Published on: November 16, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Synaptic Plasticity
Cellular Biology

Background:

Synapses involve direct contact between pre- and post-synaptic cells mediated by cell adhesion molecules (CAMs).
Astrocytes and the extracellular matrix (ECM) form integral parts of the synapse, leading to concepts like the 'tri-partite' and 'tetra-partite' synapse.
CAMs influence synaptic strength by organizing molecular components within the synaptic cleft.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of CAMs in homeostatic synaptic plasticity at the neuromuscular junction and central nervous system.
To explore how CAMs regulate postsynaptic scaling and presynaptic neurotransmitter release.
To discuss activity-dependent trans-synaptic signaling and the role of cell adhesion in network activity feedback.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on synaptic CAMs and homeostatic plasticity.
Analysis of findings on postsynaptic scaling and presynaptic release modulation.
Discussion of recent research on trans-synaptic signaling and cell adhesion's role in network feedback.

Main Results:

Synaptic CAMs are key regulators of homeostatic synaptic plasticity.
CAMs mediate postsynaptic current scaling and presynaptic release modulation.
Cell adhesion plays a significant role in activity-dependent trans-synaptic signaling and network activity control.

Conclusions:

An integrated view of the synapse, including CAMs, astrocytes, and ECM, is essential for understanding homeostatic synaptic plasticity.
CAMs are critical for maintaining synaptic function and network stability.
Further research into trans-synaptic signaling and cell adhesion mechanisms will advance our understanding of brain function and plasticity.