Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
08:30
Preparation of Synaptoneurosomes from Mouse Cortex using a Discontinuous Percoll-Sucrose Density Gradient
Published on: September 17, 2011
31.6K
Alteration of synaptic protein composition during developmental synapse maturation.
Takeshi Kaizuka1,2, Toru Takumi1,3
1Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|April 4, 2024
Summary
Synapse maturation involves significant changes in postsynaptic density (PSD) protein composition. Understanding these molecular alterations is key to synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a crucial protein complex at excitatory synapses, regulating synaptic function and plasticity.
- The PSD proteome, comprising around 1000 proteins, undergoes dynamic changes during brain development and synapse maturation.
- Alterations in PSD composition are implicated in synaptic dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize developmental changes in postsynaptic protein composition during synapse maturation.
- To highlight key PSD proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and their developmental regulation.
- To discuss the role of synaptic protein composition in neurodevelopmental disorders and interspecies differences.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing literature on PSD protein composition and synapse development.
- Analysis of changes in protein abundance, complex assembly, and physical organization within the PSD.
- Comparative analysis of synapse development across species (rodents vs. primates) and in disease states.
Main Results:
- Synapse maturation is characterized by dynamic alterations in PSD protein abundance, complex formation, and organization.
- Specific PSD proteins play critical roles in regulating synaptic plasticity, with altered expression impacting development.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, exhibit abnormal synaptic profiles and protein composition.
Conclusions:
- Postsynaptic protein composition is a critical determinant and marker of synapse maturation in both healthy and diseased brains.
- Understanding PSD molecular dynamics offers insights into synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment, and neurological disorders.
- Recent advances in synaptic diversity and nanoarchitecture research will shape future investigations into synapse function and development.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Long-term Depression
2.5K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
2.5K
01:26Chemical Synapses
8.8K
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...
8.8K
01:35Long-term Potentiation
55.2K
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.
55.2K
01:29Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
9.9K
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...
9.9K
01:01Neuroplasticity
344
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.
344
03:03Amyloid Fibrils
9.5K
Amyloid fibrils are aggregates of misfolded proteins. Under most circumstances, misfolded proteins are either refolded by chaperone proteins or degraded by the proteasome. However, in the case of a mutation or a disease, these proteins can accumulate to form large clusters and often further assemble to form elongated fibers, called fibrils.
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
9.5K