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Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...

Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.

Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane

Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane

Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...

The Synapse

The Synapse

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.

Electrical Synapses

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Published on: December 11, 2009

Neurexins: molecular codes for shaping neuronal synapses.

Andrea M Gomez¹, Lisa Traunmüller², Peter Scheiffele³

¹Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Nature Reviews. Neuroscience

|January 9, 2021

Summary

Molecular codes from transcriptional programs instruct synapse formation and function. The Neurexin protein family plays a key role in synapse assembly, properties, and disorders, acting as molecular

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Last Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

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Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Measuring Transcellular Interactions through Protein Aggregation in a Heterologous Cell System

Published on: May 22, 2020

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Neuronal circuit function depends on individual cell and synapse properties.
Transcriptional programs are proposed to instruct synapse formation and function via molecular codes.
The Neurexin protein family and its ligands are crucial for synapse assembly and remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

To review insights into Neurexin function across model organisms.
To discuss the cell type-specific regulation of Neurexin isoforms, including alternative mRNA splicing.
To propose a framework for how synaptic protein isoforms direct synapse formation and function.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on Neurexin function and regulation.
Analysis of alternative mRNA splicing mechanisms in Neurexin isoform generation.
Conceptual framework development based on current research.

Main Results:

Neurexin family proteins are fundamental to synapse assembly, specification, and remodeling.
Alternative mRNA splicing generates diverse Neurexin isoforms with cell type-specific functions.
Mutations in Neurexin-associated genes can impact neuronal circuits and behavior.

Conclusions:

Synapse formation and function are guided by molecular codes derived from transcriptional programs.
Combinations of synaptic protein isoforms act as 'senders' and 'readers' to establish synaptic specificity.
Understanding Neurexin function is key to deciphering neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.