title: Plasticity of neuronal receptors.
abstract: This article describes ways in which receptors, key components of signal propagation through a synapse, can mediate changes in that propagation. Changes occur at four levels: in the signal-transducing capability of a single receptor molecule, in the number of receptors per cell, in the subcellular placement of receptor molecules, and in the cytoarchitecture of receptor-rich regions. The ability of receptors to shift between different desired states is called plasticity, and such shifts can be long-lived as well as transient. In this article we focus on neuronal receptors, although key findings from a variety of cell systems are reported. Neuronal receptor plasticity may have a special role in the assembly as well as the adaptability of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience, Evanston, Illinois 60208.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skorupa
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Aguilar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface