Suzuki S T
Division of Developmental Biology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Human Service Center, 713-8 Kamiya-cho, Kasugai-shi, Aichi, 480-0392, Japan.
Exp Cell Res. 2000 Nov 25;261(1):13-8. doi: 10.1006/excr.2000.5039.
Protocadherins constitute a large family belonging to the cadherin superfamily and function in different tissues of a wide variety of multicellular organisms. Protocadherins have unique features that are not found in classic cadherins. Expression of protocadherins is spatiotemporally regulated and they are localized at synapses in the CNS. Although protocadherins have Ca(2+)-dependent homophilic interaction activity, the activities are relatively weak. Some protocadherins have heterophilic interaction activity and the cytoplasmic domains associate with the unique cytoplasmic proteins, which are essential for their biological functions. Given the characteristic properties, the large size, and the diversity of members of the protocadherin family, protocadherins may participate in various biological processes. In particular, protocadherins seem to play a central role(s) in the CNS as related to synaptic function.
原钙黏蛋白构成了一个属于钙黏蛋白超家族的大家族，并在多种多细胞生物的不同组织中发挥作用。原钙黏蛋白具有经典钙黏蛋白所没有的独特特征。原钙黏蛋白的表达在时空上受到调控，并且它们定位于中枢神经系统的突触处。尽管原钙黏蛋白具有钙离子依赖的同嗜性相互作用活性，但这些活性相对较弱。一些原钙黏蛋白具有异嗜性相互作用活性，其胞质结构域与独特的胞质蛋白相关联，这些蛋白对其生物学功能至关重要。鉴于原钙黏蛋白家族成员的特性、庞大的规模和多样性，原钙黏蛋白可能参与各种生物学过程。特别是，原钙黏蛋白似乎在中枢神经系统中与突触功能相关的方面发挥着核心作用。
