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Updated: May 30, 2026

Preparation of Synaptic Plasma Membrane and Postsynaptic Density Proteins Using a Discontinuous Sucrose Gradient
Published on: September 3, 2014
Postsynaptic ProSAP/Shank scaffolds in the cross-hair of synaptopathies
Andreas M Grabrucker1, Michael J Schmeisser, Michael Schoen
1Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
Abstract:
Intact synaptic homeostasis is a fundamental prerequisite for a healthy brain. Thus, it is not surprising that altered synaptic morphology and function are involved in the molecular pathogenesis of so-called synaptopathies including autism, schizophrenia (SCZ) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Intriguingly, various recent studies revealed a crucial role of postsynaptic ProSAP/Shank scaffold proteins in all of the aforementioned disorders. Considering these findings, we follow the hypothesis that ProSAP/Shank proteins are key regulators of synaptic development and plasticity with clear-cut isoform-specific roles. We thus propose a model where ProSAP/Shank proteins are in the center of a postsynaptic signaling pathway that is disrupted in several neuropsychiatric disorders.
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