Cadherin-mediated adhesion at the interneuronal synapse

One of the recent advances in the molecular definition of a synapse has been the identification of cadherins as major structural components. The presence of classic (N- and E-) cadherins in the synaptic complex is not surprising considering the ultrastructural similarities between interneuronal synapses and the adhesive junctions formed between epithelial cells. However, the role of these adhesion molecules and their junctions in this context is likely to encompass both developmental and physiological phenomena that are unique to the synapse. Moreover, the recent finding that a much broader family of cadherin-related receptors is also located at the synaptic complex has fuelled speculation that cadherins have a role in generation of specificity in synaptic connectivity as well as structure.