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Related Concept Videos

Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

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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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Neural Regulation01:37

Neural Regulation

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Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
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Overview of Synapses01:25

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A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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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.
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...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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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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Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 30, 2025

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies
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Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

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KALRN: A central regulator of synaptic function and synaptopathies.

Euan Parnell1, Lauren P Shapiro1, Roos A Voorn1

  • 1Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, 60611 IL, USA.

Gene
|November 15, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Kalirin (KALRN) is crucial for brain development and function. Its dysregulation is linked to neurological disorders, suggesting KALRN as a therapeutic target for conditions like autism and Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseAutism spectrum disorderDendritic spineDevelopmental delayKALRNKalirinNeurodegenerationNeurodevelopmentSchizophreniaSynaptic plasticity

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Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
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Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Kalirin (KALRN) is a key synaptic regulator involved in neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and the formation of dendritic arbors and spines.
  • KALRN gene dysregulation is associated with numerous neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, addiction, and intellectual disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an in-depth analysis of kalirin's structure and molecular mechanisms, focusing on its role in the brain.
  • To correlate kalirin's function with genetic evidence from patient mutations and animal models to understand its involvement in neurodevelopment and disease etiology.
  • To examine the emerging links between KALRN and human diseases, particularly neurodevelopmental disorders, using data from post-mortem studies, GWAS, and exome sequencing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing genetic and molecular studies on kalirin.
  • Analysis of patient mutation data and animal models of Kalrn.
  • Examination of genome-wide association (GWAS) and exome sequencing studies.

Main Results:

  • Normal KALRN expression is essential for healthy neurodevelopment and function.
  • Evidence links KALRN gene mutations and altered expression to the pathogenesis of various neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Kalirin's role in synapse formation and regulation is critical, with its dysfunction contributing to disease states.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding kalirin's regulatory mechanisms in neuronal development and its role in neurological disease is vital.
  • KALRN presents a promising therapeutic target for neurological disorders characterized by synapse dysregulation.
  • Pharmacological strategies to modulate kalirin protein activity could offer new treatment avenues for human diseases.