title: Clustering of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors at developing postsynaptic sites: the membrane activation model.
abstract: Recent studies indicate an important role of cytoskeleton-associated and lipid-anchored proteins in the formation of inhibitory postsynaptic membrane specializations. Membrane apposition of the tubulin-binding protein gephyrin is essential for the recruitment of inhibitory glycine receptors and GABAA receptors to developing postsynaptic sites. Newly disclosed interactions between gephyrin, exchange factors for G proteins of the Rho and Rac families, the translational regulator RAFT1, and actin-binding proteins like profilin might integrate activity-dependent and trophic-factor-mediated signals at developing postsynaptic sites. A model of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor clustering, is proposed, in which this process is initiated by receptor-driven activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Neurochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, D-60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kneussel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter