Abstract |
The maintenance of spine and synapse number during development is critical for neuronal circuit formation and function. Here we show that delta-catenin, a component of the cadherin- catenin cell adhesion complex, regulates spine and synapse morphogenesis during development. Genetic ablation or acute knockdown of delta-catenin leads to increases in spine and synapse density, accompanied by a decrease in tetrodotoxin induced spine plasticity. Our results indicate that delta-catenin may mediate conversion of activity-dependent signals to morphological spine plasticity. The functional role of delta-catenin in regulating spine density does not require binding to cadherins, but does require interactions with PDZ domain-containing proteins. We propose that the perturbations in spine and synaptic structure and function observed after depletion of delta-catenin during development may contribute to functional alterations in neural circuitry, the cognitive deficits observed in mutant mice, and the mental retardation pathology of Cri-du-chat syndrome.
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Authors | Jyothi Arikkath, I-Feng Peng, Yu Gie Ng, Inbal Israely, Xin Liu, Erik M Ullian, Louis F Reichardt |
Journal | The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
(J Neurosci)
Vol. 29
Issue 17
Pg. 5435-42
(Apr 29 2009)
ISSN: 1529-2401 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19403811
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Catenins
- Cell Adhesion Molecules
- Phosphoproteins
- Delta Catenin
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Topics |
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Catenins
- Cell Adhesion Molecules
(deficiency, genetics, physiology)
- Cells, Cultured
- Cognition Disorders
(genetics, pathology)
- Dendritic Spines
(physiology, ultrastructure)
- Hippocampus
(growth & development, ultrastructure)
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Morphogenesis
(physiology)
- Neuronal Plasticity
(physiology)
- Neurons
(physiology, ultrastructure)
- Phosphoproteins
(deficiency, genetics, physiology)
- Rats
- Synapses
(physiology, ultrastructure)
- Delta Catenin
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