Cadherins Communicate Structural Plasticity of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Terminals

AbstractSynapse adhesion molecules play a key role in specifying and facilitating the recognition of axodendritic contacts. New studies by Togashi et al. (2002) and Murase et al. (2002) reported in this issue of Neuron reveal multiple functions for the cadherin-catenin complex. This adhesion complex regulates synaptogenesis and coordinates synaptic strength with presynaptic and postsynaptic organization, including the shape of dendritic spines