Cell adhesion molecules in the CNS.

Cell-cell adhesions are important for brain morphology and highly coordinated brain functions such as memory and learning (Sanes and Yamagata, 1999; Yamagata et al., 2003; Washbourne et al., 2004). During early development of the nervous system, neurons elongate their axons towards their targets and establish and maintain synapses through formation of cell-cell adhesions. Cell-cell adhesions also underpin axon-axon contacts and link neurons with supporting glial cells and oligodendrocytes. Here, we briefly summarize the key cell adhesion molecules involved in each case.