Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
10:34
A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
Published on: January 28, 2019
7.9K
AMPA receptor nanoscale dynamic organization and synaptic plasticities
1Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France; Bordeaux Imaging Center, CNRS UMS 3420, University of Bordeaux, INSERM US04, Bordeaux, France.
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|May 17, 2020
Summary
New imaging tools reveal nanoscale organization of excitatory synapses, changing how we understand synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation. This involves the dynamic positioning of AMPA receptors, not just their quantity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Synaptic transmission and plasticity are fundamental to brain function.
- Traditional models focused on receptor quantity, but new tools offer nanoscale insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding synaptic organization and plasticity.
- To highlight the role of nanoscale receptor dynamics in synaptic function.
Main Methods:
- Superresolution imaging techniques.
- Biosensors for live neuron enzymatic activity and neurotransmitter levels.
- Analysis of molecular organization at excitatory synapses.
Main Results:
- Excitatory synapses are organized into subdomains with specific molecular components.
- Nanoscale organization and dynamics of AMPA receptors are crucial for synaptic transmission.
- Long-term potentiation involves more than just increased receptor numbers.
Conclusions:
- A revised understanding of synaptic transmission and plasticity is emerging.
- Nanoscale organization and dynamic receptor trafficking are key to synaptic plasticity.
- Future research should focus on these dynamic molecular mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Long-term Potentiation
57.9K
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.
57.9K
01:25Long-term Potentiation
3.2K
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...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
3.2K
01:01Neuroplasticity
1.4K
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
1.4K
01:32Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures
2.3K
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
2.3K
01:26Chemical Synapses
4.0K
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...
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...
4.0K
01:26Chemical Synapses
11.0K
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...
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...
11.0K