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Activity-dependent proteolytic cleavage of cell adhesion molecules regulates excitatory synaptic development and

Sivapratha Nagappan-Chettiar¹, Erin M Johnson-Venkatesh², Hisashi Umemori¹

¹Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Neuroscience Research

|December 15, 2016

Summary

Proteolytic cleavage of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) regulates neuronal connections, impacting brain development and function. Dysregulation of this process is linked to neurological disorders.

Keywords:

Cell adhesion molecules Neuronal activity Proteolytic cleavage Synaptic development Synaptic plasticity

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Neuronal connection remodeling is essential for nervous system development and function.
Synapses must detect neuronal activity and signal appropriately.
Proteolytic cleavage of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is a key mechanism for converting activity into signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

To review mechanisms of CAM proteolytic processing in excitatory glutamatergic synapse remodeling.
To examine CAM cleavage's role in synaptic development and plasticity.
To explore links between aberrant CAM processing and neurological diseases.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on CAMs and synaptic remodeling.
Analysis of mechanisms controlling proteolytic cleavage of CAMs.
Examination of CAMs' role in synaptic maturation and plasticity.

Main Results:

Extracellular proteolytic cleavage of CAMs modulates molecular signals.
CAM processing directs synaptic maturation during development.
CAM cleavage influences synaptic strengthening and weakening in adult plasticity.
Improper CAM processing is implicated in schizophrenia, brain tumors, and Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusions:

Activity-dependent proteolytic cleavage of CAMs is vital for brain development and function.
Regulation of CAM processing is critical for maintaining neurological health.
CAMs represent potential therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.