Neuroligin 2 is exclusively localized to inhibitory synapses
2004 | journal article; research paper. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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- Authors
- Varoqueaux, Frederique; Jamain, S.; Brose, Nils
- Abstract
- Neuroligins are cell adhesion proteins that are thought to instruct the formation and alignment of synaptic specializations. The three known rodent neuroligin isoforms share homologous extracellular acetylcholinesterase-like domains that bridge the synaptic cleft and bind beta-neurexins. All neuroligins have identical intracellular C-terminal motifs that bind to PDZ domains of various target proteins. Neuroligin 1 is specifically localized to glutamatergic postsynaptic specializations. We show here that neuroligin 2 is exclusively localized to inhibitory synapses in rat brain and dissociated neurons. In immature neurons, neuroligin 2 is found at synapses and also at GABA(A) receptor aggregates that are not facing presynaptic termini, indicating that postsynaptic mechanisms lead to synaptic recruitment of neuroligin 2. Our findings identify neuroligin 2 as a new cell adhesion protein specific for inhibitory synapses and open new avenues for identifiying the constituents of this unique type of postsynaptic specialization.
- Issue Date
- 2004
- Journal
- European Journal of Cell Biology
- ISSN
- 0171-9335