The roles of cadherins in controlling organization and function of the synapse

Synopsis Cadherins are a large superfamily of cell adhesion molecules defined by the presence of multiple extracellular copies of the cadherin motif. The classical, seven-pass transmembrane (Flamingo), protocadherin, and Fat cadherins are expressed in synapses and control synapse formation, function and plasticity. The classical cadherins regulate axon-target interactions as well as pre and postsynaptic differentiation. Flamingo cadherins appear to act at early stages of synapse development. Protocadherins regulate synaptic density and seem likely to regulate synaptic specificity. Fat cadherins control organization of the F-actin cytoskeleton and are highly expressed in the brain, but their synaptic roles remain to be studied.