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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...

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.

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

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...

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...

Assembly of Signaling Complexes

Assembly of Signaling Complexes

Multiprotein signaling complexes are formed in a dynamic process involving protein-protein interactions at the cytoplasmic domain of transmembrane receptors or enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins associated with the receptor. These complexes ensure the activation and propagation of intracellular signals that regulate cell functions.
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...

Overview of Synapses

Overview of Synapses

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

Electrical synapse structure requires distinct isoforms of a postsynaptic scaffold.

Jennifer Carlisle Michel¹, Margaret M B Grivette¹, Amber T Harshfield¹

¹Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America.

|November 27, 2023

Summary

Electrical synapses use gap junction (GJ) channels regulated by the electrical synapse density (ESD). This study reveals that different isoforms of the ZO1b gene contribute uniquely to ESD assembly and GJ channel localization, impacting electrical transmission.

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Published on: November 14, 2014

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Electrical synapses, formed by gap junction (GJ) channels within the electrical synapse density (ESD), are crucial for neural communication.
The precise proteomic composition and molecular mechanisms governing ESD assembly and GJ channel localization remain incompletely understood.
Previous work identified the scaffolding protein ZO1b as a key component of the ESD, essential for electrical synapse function in zebrafish.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular complexity of the ESD by examining the role of different ZO1b gene isoforms.
To determine how alternative transcription initiation sites of the ZO1b gene generate distinct isoforms with unique functions at electrical synapses.

Main Methods:

Utilized zebrafish Mauthner cells as a model system.
Analyzed ZO1b gene structure and identified three isoforms: ZO1b-Alpha, -Beta, and -Gamma, based on unique N-termini.
Generated isoform-specific and compound mutants to assess the functional roles of each ZO1b isoform in GJ channel localization and electrical synapse formation.

Main Results:

ZO1b-Beta and ZO1b-Gamma isoforms are expressed in the nervous system and localize to electrical synapses, while ZO1b-Alpha is primarily non-neuronal.
ZO1b-Beta is both necessary and sufficient for robust GJ channel localization at electrical synapses.
ZO1b-Gamma plays a supporting role in GJ channel localization, despite its synaptic presence.

Conclusions:

The ZO1b gene locus generates distinct isoforms that differentially contribute to the macromolecular complex at electrical synapses.
Molecular complexity of the ESD arises not only from diverse genes but also from alternative splicing and transcription initiation within single genes.
Understanding ESD proteomic diversity, including isoform-specific contributions, is critical for comprehending the development, structure, function, and plasticity of electrical transmission.