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Related Concept Videos

Chemical Synapses01:26

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...
Chemical Synapses01:26

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...
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

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...
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane01:26

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...
Synaptic Signaling01:09

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 Signaling01:12

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.

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Related Experiment Video

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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

Coordinated Pre- and Postsynaptic Protein Dynamics Underlie Rapid Sema4D-Induced Inhibitory Synapse Assembly.

Zachary Pranske1, Suzanne Paradis2

  • 1Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454.

Eneuro
|May 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) rapidly synchronizes inhibitory synapse assembly in neurons. This study reveals a presynapse-first model where Sema4D coordinates protein dynamics for rapid GABAergic synapse formation.

Keywords:
GABAergicSemaphorin/Plexininhibitionlive cell imagingsynapse formationsynaptogenesis

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

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Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture
10:17

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08:30

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Published on: September 17, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Inhibitory synapse formation mechanisms are poorly understood due to asynchronous molecular events.
  • Resolving the spatiotemporal dynamics of synaptogenesis has been challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular events underlying inhibitory synapse assembly.
  • To utilize Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) to synchronize and observe GABAergic synapse formation in real-time.
  • To elucidate the coordination of pre- and postsynaptic protein dynamics during synapse assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) to induce rapid, selective GABAergic synapse formation in cultured hippocampal neurons.
  • Employed two-channel live imaging to observe pre- and postsynaptic protein dynamics.
  • Analyzed the mobility and colocalization of key synaptic proteins like GAD65, gephyrin, and GABAARγ2 subunits.

Main Results:

  • Sema4D treatment increased presynaptic GAD65-containing bouton mobility within 20 minutes.
  • Postsynaptic gephyrin scaffolds were mobilized locally and proximity-dependently.
  • GABAARγ2 subunits were recruited to gephyrin scaffolds prior to presynaptic alignment, suggesting scaffold priming.
  • Observed new colocalization events indicating gephyrin or GABAAR clustering can nucleate postsynaptic assembly.

Conclusions:

  • Sema4D coordinates pre- and postsynaptic protein dynamics with spatiotemporal precision to assemble inhibitory synapses within minutes.
  • A presynapse-first model is supported, with postsynaptic scaffolds primed for receptor capture.
  • Findings provide insights into inhibitory synapse assembly and potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders.