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Functional mosaic organization of neuroligins in neuronal circuits

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Abstract

Complex brain circuitry with feedforward and feedback systems regulates neuronal activity, enabling neural networks to process and drive the entire spectrum of cognitive, behavioral, sensory, and motor functions. Simultaneous orchestration of distinct cells and interconnected neural circuits is underpinned by hundreds of synaptic adhesion molecules that span synaptic junctions. Dysfunction of a single molecule or molecular interaction at synapses can lead to disrupted circuit activity and brain disorders. Neuroligins, a family of cell adhesion molecules, were first identified as postsynaptic-binding partners of presynaptic neurexins and are essential for synapse specification and maturation. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how this family of adhesion molecules controls neuronal circuit assembly by acting in a synapse-specific manner.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science (2019SHIBS0004) (to B. Zhang). We would like to thank Dr. Justin Trotter (Stanford University) for discussion and feedback, and Drs. Zhihui Liu (Stanford University) and Lulu Chen (University of California, Irvine) for the reading of the early manuscript.

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  1. School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Liming Qin, Sile Guo, Ying Han, Xiankun Wang & Bo Zhang

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Qin, L., Guo, S., Han, Y. et al. Functional mosaic organization of neuroligins in neuronal circuits. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 3117–3127 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03478-y

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