Trans-synaptic mechanisms orchestrated by mammalian synaptic cell adhesion molecules.

Bidirectional trans-synaptic signaling is essential for the formation, maturation, and plasticity of synaptic connections. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are prime drivers in shaping the identities of trans-synaptic signaling pathways. A series of recent studies provide evidence that diverse presynaptic cell adhesion proteins dictate the regulation of specific synaptic properties in postsynaptic neurons. Focusing on mammalian synaptic CAMs, this article outlines several exemplary cases supporting this notion and highlights how these trans-synaptic signaling pathways collectively contribute to the specificity and diversity of neural circuit architecture.