Precise levels of nectin-3 are required for proper synapse formation in postnatal visual cortex.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Developing cortical neurons express a tightly choreographed sequence of cytoskeletal and transmembrane proteins to form and strengthen specific synaptic connections during circuit formation. Nectin-3 is a cell-adhesion molecule with previously described roles in synapse formation and maintenance. This protein and its binding partner, nectin-1, are selectively expressed in upper-layer neurons of mouse visual cortex, but their role in the development of cortical circuits is unknown.

Methods

Here we block nectin-3 expression (via shRNA) or overexpress nectin-3 in developing layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons using in utero electroporation. We then assay dendritic spine densities at three developmental time points: eye opening (postnatal day (P)14), one week following

SUBMITTER: Tomorsky J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7648993 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature