Latrophilins

Latrophilins (ADGRL1-4) are a group of neuronal adhesion G protein-coupled receptors, Latrophilins have been suggested to control synapse maturation and exocytosis in the brain. The latrophilins share a typical structure of large proteolytically cleavable N-terminal domain, and a C-terminal transmembrane domain, which can engage in G-protein-mediated intracellular signaling. The large extracellular N-terminus consists of multiple domains: A lectin-domain, an olfactomedin domain, a hormone binding region followed by a S/T-rich region that separates the GPCR autoproteolytic inducing domain and the 7-transmembrane domains. The latrophilins was initially identified as high affinity-binders of the alpha-latrotoxin from the black widow spider, however, the list of endogenous ligands for the latrophilins is currently expanding and include synaptic cleft cell adhesion molecules such as Teneurins, Neurexins, and FLRTs. ^{1 2}