Synapse synaptic plasticity

Synaptic plasticity is a term that encompasses a wide range of complex processes. At the level of the individual synapse, synaptic plasticity is the process by which the architecture and complement of signaling molecules are adjusted in response to recent activity, in preparation for future activity. In the simplest terms, the past predicts the future, and so recent activity increases synaptic strength, whereas lack of activity leads to synapse deconstruction. A critical modulator of this general rule is the coordination (i.e., timing) of events between the pre- and postsynaptic sides of individual synapses. At the level of the neuron and neuronal circuit, synaptic plasticity is the means of encoding information. That is, changes in individual... 

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a synaptic plasticity phenomenon that corresponds to an increase in the synaptic strength (increase in the post-synaptic response observed for the same stimulation of the presynaptic terminals) observed after a high frequency stimulation (tetanus) of the afferent fibres. This increased response is still observed hours and even days after the tetanus. The phenomenon is often observed at glutamatergic synapses and involves, in most cases, the activation of the V-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors. 

We utilized this technique to analyze Scrapper gene-dehcient (SCR-KO) mice.21 SCRAPPER, a protein that we have recently reported, is localized at synapses in neurons. It is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that is involved in the decomposition of RIM (Rab3-interacting molecule) 1, an important regulator of synaptic plasticity, and thus regulates synaptic transmissions.22... 

Curtis, J. and Finkbeiner, S. Sending signals from the synapse to the nucleus possible roles for CaMK, Ras/ERK, and SAPK pathways in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and neuronal growth. /. Neurosci. Res. 58 88-95,1999. 

The recently developed GLUK5 selective compound LY382884 (47) is the first antagonist that is selective enough for kainate receptors over AMPA receptors to be used to study the functions of native KA receptors in the presence of intact AMPA receptor-mediated transmission. The use of LY382884 has uncovered a role for kainate receptors in the regulation of short- and long-term synaptic plasticity in the mossy-fiber pathway (49,77) as well as at thalamocortical synapses (87) (Fig. 3)... 

Malenka RC, Siegelbaum SA (2001) Synaptic plasticity. In Synapses (Cowan MW, Siidhof TC, Stevens CF, eds), The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp 393 153 Meinrenken CJ, Borst JG, Sakmann B (2003) Local routes revisited the space and time dependence of the Ca2+ signal for phasic transmitter release at the rat calyx of Held. J Physiol 547 665-89... 

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