Proteomic Analysis of Postsynaptic Protein Complexes Underlying Neuronal Plasticity

Normal neuronal communication and synaptic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses requires dynamic regulation of postsynaptic molecules. Protein expression and protein post-translational modifications regulate protein interactions that underlie this organization. In this Review, we highlight data obtained over the last 20 years that have used qualitative and quantitative proteomics-based approaches to identify postsynaptic protein complexes. Herein, we describe how these proteomics studies have helped lay the foundation for understanding synaptic physiology and perturbations in synaptic signaling observed in different pathologies. We also describe emerging technologies that can be useful in these analyses. We focus on protein complexes associated with the highly abundant and functionally critical proteins: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, the N-methyl-d-aspartate, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid glutamate receptors, and postsynaptic density protein of 95 kDa.