Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation

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.

Long-term Potentiation

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...

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)

Postsynaptic 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...

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

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

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Neuronal activity drives PCDH9 cleavage and nuclear translocation to coordinate structural and functional remodeling.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026

Same author

The complex role of protocadherin-19 in brain function: a focus on the oxytocin system.

Neural regeneration research·2024

Same author

Disruption of the Autism-Associated <i>Pcdh9</i> Gene Leads to Transcriptional Alterations, Synapse Overgrowth, and Defective Network Activity in the CA1.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2024

Same author

Modeling PCDH19 clustering epilepsy by Neurogenin 2 induction of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells.

Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape·2023

Same author

Neuronal network activity and connectivity are impaired in a conditional knockout mouse model with PCDH19 mosaic expression.

Molecular psychiatry·2023

Same author

The tetraspanin TSPAN5 regulates AMPAR exocytosis by interacting with the AP4 complex.

eLife·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Published on: August 2, 2019

TSPAN7: A new player in excitatory synapse maturation and function.

Silvia Bassani¹, Maria Passafaro

¹CNR Institute of Neuroscience; Department of Medical Pharmacology; University of Milan; Milan, Italy.

Bioarchitecture

|August 11, 2012

Summary

Tetraspanin TSAN7 promotes filopodia and dendritic spine formation in neurons. It is essential for synaptic stability and function by regulating protein interactions and receptor trafficking.

More Related Videos

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density

Published on: July 22, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Published on: August 2, 2019

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density

Published on: July 22, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Tetraspanins are crucial cell surface proteins involved in regulating protein signaling and trafficking.
They can link extracellular integrins to intracellular molecules, influencing cytoskeletal organization.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of Tetraspanin 7 (TSPAN7) in neuronal development and synaptic function.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which TSPAN7 influences glutamatergic synapse maturation.

Main Methods:

Utilized cultured hippocampal neurons to study TSPAN7's effects on cellular morphology.
Employed co-immunoprecipitation and biochemical assays to identify interacting proteins and protein complex formation.
Assessed synaptic transmission and receptor trafficking in the presence and absence of TSPAN7.

Main Results:

TSPAN7 was found to promote the formation of filopodia and dendritic spines in neurons.
TSPAN7 directly interacts with Protein Interacting with C Kinase 1 (PICK1) and associates with AMPA receptor subunit GluA2.
TSPAN7 regulates the association between PICK1 and GluA2/3, impacting AMPA receptor trafficking.

Conclusions:

TSPAN7 plays a critical role in the morphological development of glutamatergic synapses.
TSPAN7 is essential for maintaining synaptic stability and ensuring normal synaptic transmission.
TSPAN7 acts as a key regulator of synaptic maturation through its interactions with PICK1 and AMPA receptors.