Structure, function, and pathology of Neurexin-3

Rui Zhang; HanXiao Jiang; YuanJie Liu; GuiQiong He

doi:10.1016/j.gendis.2022.04.008

Structure, function, and pathology of Neurexin-3

Genes Dis. 2022 Apr 30;10(5):1908-1919. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.04.008. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Rui Zhang¹, HanXiao Jiang², YuanJie Liu^{1

3}, GuiQiong He^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
² Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
³ Department of Anatomy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.

Abstract

Neurexin-3 is primarily localized in the presynaptic membrane and forms complexes with various ligands located in the postsynaptic membrane. Neurexin-3 has important roles in synapse development and synapse functions. Neurexin-3 mediates excitatory presynaptic differentiation by interacting with leucine-rich-repeat transmembrane neuronal proteins. Meanwhile, neurexin-3 modulates the expression of presynaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors by interacting with neuroligins at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Numerous studies have documented the potential contribution of neurexin-3 to neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, addiction behaviors, and other diseases, which raises hopes that understanding the mechanisms of neurexin-3 may hold the key to developing new strategies for related illnesses. This review comprehensively covers the literature to provide current knowledge of the structure, function, and clinical role of neurexin-3.

Keywords: Excitatory synapses; Inhibitory synapses; Neural cell adhesion molecules; Neurexin-3; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuropsychiatric diseases.

Publication types

Review