Neurexin

Function

Neurexins (NRXN) are a family of presynaptic proteins which bind to the postsynaptic Neuroligin (NLGN) to form a complex which attaches neurons. The NRXN family contains 4 members which are numbered 1 to 4^[1]. The NRXN-α contains 6 homologous LNS domains while the NRXN-β contains only LNS6.

See: Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neuroligin-Neurexin Interaction

Relevance

NRXN sequence variants may contribute to autism spectrum disorder and other cognitive diseases^[2].

3D Structures of Neurexin

08-May-2016

References

1. ↑ Dean C, Scholl FG, Choih J, DeMaria S, Berger J, Isacoff E, Scheiffele P. Neurexin mediates the assembly of presynaptic terminals. Nat Neurosci. 2003 Jul;6(7):708-16. PMID:12796785 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn1074
2. ↑ Kim HG, Kishikawa S, Higgins AW, Seong IS, Donovan DJ, Shen Y, Lally E, Weiss LA, Najm J, Kutsche K, Descartes M, Holt L, Braddock S, Troxell R, Kaplan L, Volkmar F, Klin A, Tsatsanis K, Harris DJ, Noens I, Pauls DL, Daly MJ, MacDonald ME, Morton CC, Quade BJ, Gusella JF. Disruption of neurexin 1 associated with autism spectrum disorder. Am J Hum Genet. 2008 Jan;82(1):199-207. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.09.011. PMID:18179900 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.09.011