Question

neurexins are cell adhesion proteins that are important for connecting neurons at the synapse. mammals have 3 neurexin genes. however, 2000 forms of neurexin proteins are found in cells where they play a role in determining synapse specificity. what mechanism most likely underlies this diversity? quizlet

Answer 1

Neurexins and neuroligins have emerged as central organizing molecules for excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory GABAergic synapses in the mammalian brain.

They function as cell adhesion molecules and bridge synaptic clefts. Surprisingly, both partners can trigger hemisynapse formation.

Neuroligins induce presynaptic differentiation and neurexins induce postsynaptic differentiation. Recent protein interaction assays and cell culture studies demonstrate the selectivity of function conferred on both partners by alternative splicing. The site 4 insertion of β-neurexin selectively promotes GABAergic synaptic function, whereas the site B insertion of neurolysin 1 selectively promotes glutamatergic synaptic function. Although early knockdown and knockout studies suggest that neurexins and neuroligins play important roles in synaptic transmission, particularly GABAergic synapses, assessing the in vivo function of these complex protein families needs further research.

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