Neurexins

Members of the Neurexin family (NRXN1-3), that often presents on the presynaptic membrane, function as receptors for a range of synaptic cleft molecules, including the Neuroligins in the synaptic neurexin-neuroligin complexes that play a crucials role in the structural synapse assembly. The full length alpha-isoform of the neurexins are made up of 6 laminin/neurexin/sex-hormone-binding globulin domains with 3 EGF-like repeats sandwiched in between. The cluster of domains is flanked by a stretch of clustered O-glycosylation sites. The ß-isoform of the neurexins is produced from an alternate promoter within the alpha-neurexin gene giving rise to a ß-isoform specific N-terminus and shared C-terminus. ^{1 2}