Crystal structures of synaptic recognition molecules Sidekick-1 and -2 reveal a single homodimer interaction mode responsible for both cell-cell recognition and cis-clustering, suggesting that competition between cis and trans interactions may be critical to specificity.

Surface plasmon resonance studies reveal that clustered protocadherins have precisely tuned trans homophilic binding interactions and promiscuous but variable cis interactions, consistent with the requirement of forming error-free linear molecular zippers used by mammalian neurons to distinguish self from nonself.

Crystal structures of γ-protocadherin cell-cell recognition dimers reveal the determinants of clustered protocadherin homophilic specificity and cis interaction region structures alongside mutagenesis data identify the putative cis interface.

Fly protein families Dprs and DIPs can create a multitude of complementary interfaces for homo- and heterophilic adhesion complexes, resulting in instructive roles for connectivity in the motor neuron circuitry.

Clustered and non-clustered protocadherins form antiparallel homodimers in which distinct regions of the extended interface demonstrate a division of labor between driving affinity and determining specificity.

Loss of Kirrel3 selectively reduces DG-GABA mossy fiber filopodia and causes CA3 neuron hyper-activity during brain development.

FGFRs regulate multipolar cortical neuron orientation and the morphological change into bipolar cells in vivo under the control of N-Cadherin and the extracellular matrix protein Reelin.

For neurons to prevent undesirable synaptic connections in the brain, the combinatorial expression of γ-PCDH is essential.

Systematic proteomic approaches identify several cell junction regulators as substrates for the homophilic receptor tyrosine phosphatase PTPRK and implicate its pseudophosphatase domain in substrate recognition.

Combinatorial expression patterns of δ-Pcdhs are defined within single neurons, and in vitro assays are employed to establish guiding principles used by this gene family to mediate cell adhesion.