Cell Adhesion, the Backbone of the Synapse: "Vertebrate" and "Invertebrate" Perspectives
Open accessAbstract
Synapses are asymmetric intercellular junctions that mediate neuronal communication. The number, type, and connectivity patterns of synapses determine the formation, maintenance, and function of neural circuitries. The complexity and specificity of synaptogenesis relies upon modulation of adhesive properties, which regulate contact initiation, synapse formation, maturation, and functional plasticity. Disruption of adhesion may result in structural and functional imbalance that may lead to neurodevelopmental diseases, such as autism, or neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, understanding the roles of different adhesion protein families in synapse formation is crucial for unraveling the biology of neuronal circuit formation, as well as the pathogenesis of some brain disorders. The present review summarizes some of the knowledge that has been acquired in vertebrate and invertebrate genetic model organisms.
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Synaptic activity plays a crucial role in stabilizing cell adhesion complexes and promoting the expansion of dendritic spine heads, leading to synapse maturation and stabilization.
“Synaptic activity plays a crucial role in stabilizing cell adhesion complexes and promoting the expansion of dendritic spine heads, leading to synapse maturation and stabilization [75].”
From Molecular Physiology of the Neuronal Synapse (2026) · cites this paper as [75]
CAMs not only provide a mechanical link but also activate downstream pathways that remodel the cytoskeleton and organize the synaptic apparatus.
“They not only provide a mechanical link but also activate downstream pathways that remodel the cytoskeleton and organize the synaptic apparatus [49,75].”
From Molecular Physiology of the Neuronal Synapse (2026) · cites this paper as [75]
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DePew, A. T., Aimino, M. A., & Mosca, T. J. (2018) · bioRxiv · doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00027 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Engineering functional membrane-membrane interface by InterSpy
Moghimianavval, H., Patel, C., Mohapatra, S., Hwang, S.-W., Kayikcioglu, T., Bashirzadeh, Y., Liu, A. P., & Ha, T. (2022) · bioRxiv · doi:10.1101/2022.04.04.487023 · Cited by 10
“To create a network from electrically communicating excitable cells, a system that brings and maintains membranes close to each other for electrochemical exchange without allowing ion transfer [34] (e.”
BackgroundWeber, T., Stephan, R., Moreno, E., & Pielage, J. (2019) · Front. Cell Dev. Biol. · doi:10.3389/fcell.2019.00148 · Cited by 10
Inhibitory CCK+ basket synapse defects in mouse models of dystroglycanopathy
Jahncke, J. N., Miller, D. S., Krush, M., Schnell, E., & Wright, K. M. (2023) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.87965 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Tu, R., Qian, J., Rui, M., Tao, N., Sun, M., Zhuang, Y., Lv, H., Han, J., Li, M., & Xie, W. (2017) · Journal of Molecular Cell Biology · doi:10.1093/jmcb/mjx015 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“They are composed of presynaptic and postsynaptic areas that are consisted of many adhesion molecules (Giagtzoglou et al., 2009).”
BackgroundVisual Circuit Assembly Requires Fine Tuning of the Novel Ig Transmembrane Protein Borderless
Cameron, S., Chang, W.-T., Chen, Y., Zhou, Y., Taran, S., & Rao, Y. (2013) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1878-13.2013 · Cited by 9
“Studies over the last two decades have identified a number of cell-surface recognition molecules that mediate specific neurite–neurite interactions for circuit assembly (Giagtzoglou et al., 2009).”
BackgroundDirect and Indirect Regulation of Spinal Cord Ia Afferent Terminal Formation by the γ-Protocadherins
Prasad, T., & Weiner, J. A. (2011) · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnmol.2011.00054 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
“Cell adhesion molecules, particularly those of the large and diverse immunoglobulin and cadherin superfamilies, have been shown to regulate multiple steps in the process of circuit assembly, including axon fasciculation, axon pathfinding, terminal arborization, and synaptic specificity (reviewed by Takeichi, 2007; Ari…”
Yadav, S. S., Srinivasan, K., Sharma, S. S., & Datusalia, A. K. (2025) · ACS Chemical Neuroscience · doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.5c00069 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Schlotterose, L., Beldjilali‐Labro, M., Schneider, G., Vardi, O., Hattermann, K., Even, U., Shohami, E., Haustein, H. D., Leichtmann‐Bardoogo, Y., & Maoz, B. M. (2023) · Neurotrauma Reports · doi:10.1089/neur.2022.0072 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“In fact, a depletion of cell surface area was observed, which could be attributablee to an alteration in cell adhesion molecules 25,26 or membrane disruption.”
Molecular Physiology of the Neuronal Synapse
Ramírez-Expósito, M. J., Cueto-Ureña, C., & Martínez-Martos, J. M. (2026) · Current Issues in Molecular Biology · doi:10.3390/cimb48010088 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“Synaptic activity plays a crucial role in stabilizing cell adhesion complexes and promoting the expansion of dendritic spine heads, leading to synapse maturation and stabilization [75].”
Marchand, G., Fliniaux, I., Titran, P., Takeda-Uchimura, Y., Bodart, J., Harduin-lepers, A., Cailliau, K., & Marin, M. (2024) · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116119 · Cited by 4
Wang, X., Shi, Q., Pradhan, A. K., Ziegon, L., Schlegel, M., & Rammes, G. (2022) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23126637 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Mechanical processes underlying precise and robust cell matching
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“At first, both axons and dendrites extend protrusions to search for targets and initiate contact via filopodia [88 – 90].”
Trafficking of Glutamate Receptors and Associated Proteins in Synaptic Plasticity
Hořák, M., Seabold, G. K., & Petralia, R. S. (2014) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-418675-0.00008-0 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Scaffold Protein Lnx1 Stabilizes EphB Receptor Kinases for Synaptogenesis
Li, N., Chen, S., Xu, N., Sun, S., Chen, J., & Liu, X. (2022) · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.861873 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Functional test of PCDHB11, the most human-specific neuronal surface protein
de Freitas, G. B., Gonçalves, R. A., & Gralle, M. (2016) · BMC Evolutionary Biology · doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0652-x · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Genetic Analysis of Synaptogenesis
Lu, C. S., & Vactor, D. V. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397266-8.00104-6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Ghiyamihoor, F., Rad, A. A., & Marzban, H. (2026) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms27177576
“This conservation has made genetically tractable mouse models indispensable for defining mechanisms of synaptogenesis, refinement, and circuit assembly [20–22].”
DMRIntTk: Integrating different DMR sets based on density peak clustering
Zhang, W., Jie, W., Cui, W., Duan, G., Zou, Y. F., & Peng, X. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0315920
“Since calmodulin, particularly neuronal calmodulin (N-cadherins), is important for synapse formation and stability [56], their possible role in AD pathology and clinical disease manifestations has become a hot research topic.”
Application of Cadherin cRNA Probes in Brains of Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
Zhou, H., Du, S. J., Gendi, F., Li, H., Fu, J., & Chang, C. (2024) · Molecular Biology · doi:10.1134/s0026893324700134
“The CAJ structural disorders might cause neurodegeneration that leads to Alzheimer’s disease [6, 7].”
Cell‐based allometry: an approach for evaluation of complexity in morphogenesis
Tarihi, A., Tarihi, M., & Tiraihi, T. (2023) · Quantitative Biology · doi:10.15302/j-qb-022-0319 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Guo, L. (2018) · doi:10.32657/10220/45834
“(D-F) The modulation of adhesion molecules during synaptic formation (Giagtzoglou et al., 2009).”
InfluentialDesbois, M. (2015) · doi:10.70675/7b62bd6aza57dz42dfzbfbaz01b8e410e69c
“The formation of chemical synapses occurs in several steps: initial contact, differentiation, and maturation (Giagtzoglou et al. 2009).”
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Dresbach, T. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-4-431-55166-9_2
- Authors
- Giagtzoglou, N., Ly, C. V., & Bellen, H. J.
- Affiliations
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Venue
- Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Published
- 2009-09-09
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- a003079-a003079
- ISSN
- 1943-0264 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2773626
- OpenAlex
- W2098092575
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 12
- Type
- posted content
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Keywords
- cell adhesion, synaptogenesis, adhesion proteins, neural circuit formation, synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Mental Disorders, Cell Adhesion, Humans, Leucine, Models, Biological, Synaptic Transmission, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Synapses, Vertebrates, Cadherins, Neurodegenerative Diseases
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
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