Contactins are a group of cell adhesion molecules that are mainly expressed in the brain and play pivotal roles in the organization of axonal domains, axonal guidance, neuritogenesis, neuronal development, synapse for...Contactins are a group of cell adhesion molecules that are mainly expressed in the brain and play pivotal roles in the organization of axonal domains, axonal guidance, neuritogenesis, neuronal development, synapse formation and plasticity, axo-glia interactions and neural regeneration. Contactins comprise a family of six members. Their absence leads to malformed axons and impaired nerve conduction. Contactin mediated protein complex formation is critical for the organization of the axon in early central nervous system development. Mutations and differential expression of contactins have been identified in neuro-developmental or neurological disorders. Taken together, contactins are extensively studied in the context of nervous system development. This review summarizes the physiological roles of all six members of the Contactin family in neurodevelopment as well as their involvement in neurological/neurodevelopmental disorders.展开更多
How do individual neurons develop and how are they in- tegrated into neuronal circuitry？ To answer this question is essential to understand how the nervous system develops and how it is maintained during the adult li...How do individual neurons develop and how are they in- tegrated into neuronal circuitry？ To answer this question is essential to understand how the nervous system develops and how it is maintained during the adult life. A neural stem cell must go through several stages of maturation, including proliferation, migration, differentiation, and integration, to become fully embedded to an existing neuronal circuit. The knowledge on this topic so far has come mainly from cell culture studies. Studying the development of individual neurons within intact neuronal networks in vivo is inherently difficult. Most neurons are generated form neural stem cells during embryonic and early postnatal development.展开更多
基金funded by the Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology and the European Neuroscience Campus Network,an Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Program(cycle 5/2014/P-04)(to MC)
文摘Contactins are a group of cell adhesion molecules that are mainly expressed in the brain and play pivotal roles in the organization of axonal domains, axonal guidance, neuritogenesis, neuronal development, synapse formation and plasticity, axo-glia interactions and neural regeneration. Contactins comprise a family of six members. Their absence leads to malformed axons and impaired nerve conduction. Contactin mediated protein complex formation is critical for the organization of the axon in early central nervous system development. Mutations and differential expression of contactins have been identified in neuro-developmental or neurological disorders. Taken together, contactins are extensively studied in the context of nervous system development. This review summarizes the physiological roles of all six members of the Contactin family in neurodevelopment as well as their involvement in neurological/neurodevelopmental disorders.
基金supported by DFG Schwerpunkt program 1392(project MA 4113/2-2)cluster of Excellence and DFG Research Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain(project B1-9)+1 种基金the German Ministry of Research and Education(BMBFproject 1364480)
文摘How do individual neurons develop and how are they in- tegrated into neuronal circuitry？ To answer this question is essential to understand how the nervous system develops and how it is maintained during the adult life. A neural stem cell must go through several stages of maturation, including proliferation, migration, differentiation, and integration, to become fully embedded to an existing neuronal circuit. The knowledge on this topic so far has come mainly from cell culture studies. Studying the development of individual neurons within intact neuronal networks in vivo is inherently difficult. Most neurons are generated form neural stem cells during embryonic and early postnatal development.
