title: Signal-processing machines at the postsynaptic density.
abstract: Dendrites of individual neurons in the vertebrate central nervous system are contacted by thousands of synaptic terminals relaying information about the environment. The postsynaptic membrane at each synaptic terminal is the first place where information is processed as it converges on the dendrite. At the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses, neurotransmitter receptors are attached to large protein "signaling machines" that delicately regulate the strength of synaptic transmission. These machines are visible in the electron microscope and are called the postsynaptic density. By changing synaptic strength in response to neural activity, the postsynaptic density contributes to information processing and the formation of memories.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. kennedym@its.caltech.edu
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases