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The Synapse02:47

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Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
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Dimensional analysis, also known as the factor label method, is a versatile approach for mathematical operations. The main principle behind this approach is: the units of quantities must be subjected to the same mathematical operations as their associated numbers. This method can be applied to computations ranging from simple unit conversions to more complex and multi-step calculations involving several different quantities and their units.
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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Atoms — and the protons, neutrons, and electrons that compose them — are extremely small. For example, a carbon atom weighs less than 2 × 10−23 g. When describing the properties of tiny objects such as atoms, we use appropriately small units of measure, such as the atomic mass unit (amu). The amu was originally defined based on hydrogen, the lightest element, then later in terms of oxygen. Since 1961, it has been defined with regard to the most abundant isotope of carbon, atoms of which...
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Mass synaptometry: High-dimensional multi parametric assay for single synapses.

Chandresh R Gajera1, Rosemary Fernandez1, Nadia Postupna2

  • 1Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, United States.

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|November 23, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mass Synaptometry analyzes individual human synaptosomes, revealing synaptic changes in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Disease. This high-dimensional approach offers new insights into brain disorders.

Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseaseCyTOFMass cytometryParkinson's diseaseSynapse

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry

Background:

  • Synaptic alterations, particularly presynaptic changes, are key features of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • These changes strongly correlate with cognitive decline in affected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce Mass Synaptometry, a novel method for high-dimensional analysis of individual human synaptosomes.
  • To overcome challenges in single synapse analysis and validate the method in neurodegenerative disease contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Adapted cytometry by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CyTOF) for synaptosome analysis.
  • Optimized synaptosome preparation, developed a 'SynTOF panel,' and applied computational analyses.
  • Analyzed 34 parameters on over 390,000 individual synaptosomes from human brain samples.

Main Results:

  • Characterized changes in synaptic diversity in Lewy Body Disease (LBD), Alzheimer's disease, and normal brain samples.
  • Revealed regional and disease-specific alterations in synaptic phenotypes.
  • Validated the method by identifying expected molecular changes in dopaminergic synapses in LBD and Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusions:

  • Mass Synaptometry enables highly parallel molecular profiling of individual synaptic terminals.
  • This method allows for the simultaneous detection of 34 parameters from tens of thousands of synapses, surpassing current imaging and flow cytometry limitations.
  • Provides a powerful new tool for studying synaptic alterations in neurodegenerative diseases and understanding cognitive decline.