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. 2011 Feb 2;27(1):45–52. doi: 10.1007/s12264-011-1045-1

Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule and its functions in neural development

唐氏综合征细胞黏附分子及其神经发育功能

Kun Zhu 1, Yiliang Xu 2, Jianghong Liu 1, Qi Xu 2, Haihong Ye 1,✉
PMCID: PMC5560281  PMID: 21270903

Abstract

The nervous system is a complex network with many types of neurons and numerous synaptic connections. The present knowledge on how neurons recognize specific targets and form such an intricate network is still limited. The Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and contributes to defects in the central nervous system in Down syndrome patients. DSCAM plays important roles in neural development, including dendritic patterning and self-avoidance, axon guidance and branching, axon target recognition and synaptic formation. However, the functional mechanisms and the underlying signaling pathways are still largely unknown. Here the functions of DSCAM in neural development were reviewed. Future research for better understanding DSCAM function and the relevance of DSCAM to human diseases was also discussed.

Keywords: Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule, neural development, Down syndrome

Footnotes

These two authors contributed equally to this work.

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