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Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies
Published on: July 20, 2022
Regulatory mechanisms of AMPA receptors in synaptic plasticity
Victor A Derkach1, Michael C Oh, Eric S Guire
1Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. derkachv@ohsu.edu
Abstract:
Activity-dependent changes in the strength of excitatory synapses are a cellular mechanism for the plasticity of neuronal networks that is widely recognized to underlie cognitive functions such as learning and memory. AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid)-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) are the main transducers of rapid excitatory transmission in the mammalian CNS, and recent discoveries indicate that the mechanisms which regulate AMPARs are more complex than previously thought. This review focuses on recent evidence that alterations to AMPAR functional properties are coupled to their trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics and local protein synthesis. These relationships offer new insights into the regulation of AMPARs and synaptic strength by cellular signalling.
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