title: Molecular morphogens for dendritic spines.
abstract: Three protein components of the postsynaptic density--Shank, Homer and SPAR--have been found to regulate the structural and molecular organization of dendritic spines. These new studies reveal linkages between receptor complexes, the actin cytoskeleton and signaling molecules that help shape spines.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3209, Durham, NC 27710, USA. ehlers@neuro.duke.edu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D022081:Cell Surface Extensions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D000072233:Homer Scaffolding Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C492357:SHANK3 protein, human; C120531:Shank1 protein, rat; C485686:Shank2 protein, rat; C492356:Shank3 protein, mouse