Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
17:27
Preparation of Aplysia Sensory-motor Neuronal Cell Cultures
Published on: June 8, 2009
Think globally, act locally: local translation and synapse formation in cultured Aplysia neurons
1Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Neuron
|February 1, 2006
Abstract:
Synapse formation is initiated by cell-cell contact between appropriate pre- and postsynaptic cells and is followed by recruitment of protein complexes in both pre- and postsynaptic compartments. In this issue of Neuron, Lyles et al. show that in cultured Aplysia neurons, clustering of an mRNA at nascent synapses is not only induced by the recognition between synaptic partners, but is also required for further synaptic development and maintenance.
Related Concept Videos
02:47The Synapse
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
01:09Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
01:12Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
01:32Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)
Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...