The torpedo electrocyte: a model system to study membrane-cytoskeleton interactions at the postsynaptic membrane.
Many aspects of the organization of the electromotor synapse of electric fish resemble the nerve-muscle junction. In particular, the postsynaptic membrane in both systems share most of their proteins. As a remarquable source of cholinergic synapses, the Torpedo electrocyte model has served to identify the most important components involved in synaptic transmission such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, as well as proteins associated with the subsynaptic cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix involved in the assembly of the postsynaptic membrane, namely the 43-kDa protein-rapsyn, the dystrophin/utrophin complex, agrin, and others. This review encompasses some representative experiments that helped to clarify essential aspects of the supramolecular organization and assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus of cholinergic synapses.
Cartaud
J
J
Biologie Cellulaire des Membranes, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 9275, CNRS, Universités Paris 6 et Paris7, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France. cartaud@ijm.jussieu.fr
Cartaud
A
A
Kordeli
E
E
Ludosky
M A
MA
Marchand
S
S
Stetzkowski-Marden
F
F
D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000378:metabolism; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014101:Torpedo / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D049411:Utrophin
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016189:Dystrophin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D049411:Utrophin; C051609:peripheral membrane protein 43K