δ-Catenin Regulates Spine Architecture via Cadherin and PDZ-dependent Interactions

• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.632679
• Publication Date: 2015-02-28T01:01:21Z
• Authors: Li Yuan; Eunju Seong; James L. Beuscher; Jyothi Arikkath
• Keywords: PDZ domain

The ability of neurons to maintain spine architecture and modulate it in response synaptic activity is a crucial component the cellular machinery that underlies information storage pyramidal hippocampus. Here we show critical role for δ-catenin, cadherin-catenin cell adhesion complex, regulating head width length loss Ctnnd2, gene encoding has been associated with intellectual disability observed cri du chat syndrome, suggesting functional roles δ-catenin are vital neuronal integrity higher order functions. We demonstrate mouse model or knockdown compromises length, without altering dynamics. This accompanied by reduction levels N-cadherin. critically dependent on its interact cadherin PDZ domain-containing proteins. propose during development perturbs leading developmental aberrations neural circuit formation contribute learning disabilities humans syndrome.