Figure 3.

α2δ regulates synaptogenesis through a novel pathway[34].

(A) α2δ combines with α1 to regulate the properties of voltage-gated calcium channels. α2δ consists of two domains, the extracellular α2 domain and the transmembrane domain δ, which are linked by disulfide bonds.

(B) A possible model for α2δ in regulating synaptogenesis: thrombospondins (extracellular circles) bind to the von Willebrand factor interaction motif of α2 (open half circle), causing a conformational change in α2δ. “?” indicates unclear mechanism.