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Cover Image
Cover Image
On the cover
Pettem et al. reveal that the neuronal protein MDGA1 suppresses the development of inhibitory synapses by disrupting the interaction between neuroligin-2 and neurexin-1, two synaptic cell adhesion molecules associated with autism and schizophrenia. Cultured hippocampal neurons overexpressing MDGA1 (green) show a reduced density of inhibitory inputs (labeled with vesicular GABA transporter, red) compared with neighboring, untransfected neurons. The dendritic marker MAP2 is labeled blue.
Image © 2013 Pettem et al.
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In This Issue
In Focus
MDGAs help the brain lose its inhibitions
Protein family linked to autism suppresses the development of inhibitory synapses.
People & Ideas
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Interaction between autism-linked MDGAs and neuroligins suppresses inhibitory synapse development
Selective suppression of inhibitory synapses—with no effect on excitatory synapses—results from interaction of the autism- and schizophrenia-associated proteins MDGA1 and neuroligin-2 through effects on the neuroligin–neurexin pathway.
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Directional neuronal migration is mediated by a dynamic SDF1a source generated through localized SDF1a expression followed by regulated mRNA and protein turnover.
