The liprin-α/Syd 2 protein family was initially identified as binding partners of the LAR family of receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatases.
Liprin-α proteins are multidomain proteins which are involved in the development of presynaptic active zones. Four isoforms of liprin-α have been described, so far and all of them interact with the RIM binding partners ERC 1b and ERC 2.
All four isoforms of liprin-α have also been identified as members of the MALS complex composed of CASK, Mint1 and Velis. This complex has been reported to be crucial for synaptic vesicle exocytosis.