RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 SynCAM, a Synaptic Adhesion Molecule That Drives Synapse Assembly JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 1525 OP 1531 DO 10.1126/science.1072356 VO 297 IS 5586 A1 Biederer, Thomas A1 Sara, Yildirim A1 Mozhayeva, Marina A1 Atasoy, Deniz A1 Liu, Xinran A1 Kavalali, Ege T. A1 Südhof, Thomas C. YR 2002 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/297/5586/1525.abstract AB Synapses, the junctions between nerve cells through which they communicate, are formed by the coordinated assembly and tight attachment of pre- and postsynaptic specializations. We now show that SynCAM is a brain-specific, immunoglobulin domain–containing protein that binds to intracellular PDZ-domain proteins and functions as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule at the synapse. Expression of the isolated cytoplasmic tail of SynCAM in neurons inhibited synapse assembly. Conversely, expression of full-length SynCAM in nonneuronal cells induced synapse formation by cocultured hippocampal neurons with normal release properties. Glutamatergic synaptic transmission was reconstituted in these nonneuronal cells by coexpressing glutamate receptors with SynCAM, which suggests that a single type of adhesion molecule and glutamate receptor are sufficient for a functional postsynaptic response.