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Related Concept Videos

Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
Long-term Potentiation01:25

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...

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Updated: May 22, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
07:13

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

Caspases in synaptic plasticity.

Zheng Li1, Morgan Sheng

  • 1Unit on Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. lizheng2@mail.nih.gov

Molecular Brain
|May 16, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Caspases, enzymes crucial for cell death, also regulate neuron functions like memory and learning. This review explores their non-apoptotic roles in the brain and neurodegeneration.

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Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents
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Monitoring Cleaved Caspase-3 Activity and Apoptosis of Immortalized Oligodendroglial Cells using Live-cell Imaging and Cleaveable Fluorogenic-dye Substrates Following Potassium-induced Membrane Depolarization
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Caspases are cysteine proteases traditionally known for their role in apoptosis.
  • Emerging research highlights caspases' involvement in diverse non-apoptotic cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the non-apoptotic functions of caspases in neurons.
  • To focus on the roles of caspases in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and neurodegeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on caspase functions in neurons.
  • Analysis of research focusing on synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and neurodegenerative processes.

Main Results:

  • Caspases exhibit significant non-apoptotic functions in neuronal development and plasticity.
  • Evidence links caspase activity to learning, memory formation, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Caspases are critical regulators of neuronal function beyond apoptosis.
  • Understanding these non-apoptotic roles is vital for addressing neurological disorders.