Nearly ten years after its discovery as a crucial cell-cycle-regulated ubiquitin ligase, the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) is making a debut in neurobiology. During the past year, some of the mystery surrounding a potential function for APC in the brain has been unveiled. Recent studies have defined novel roles for APC in the regulation of axonal growth and patterning, as well as in synaptic development and function. With this strong beginning for APC in neurobiology, the months and years to come are likely to bring many more insights into how neuronal APC contributes to biological processes in brain development and disease.