title: AMPA receptor cycling in the synapse.
abstract: Ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) are involved in mediating signaling in response to synaptic activity. In addition to converting the chemical signal released from the presynaptic terminal to an electrical response in the postsynaptic neuron, these receptors are critically involved in activity-dependent, long-term changes in synaptic strength and, therefore, are central to processes thought to underlie learning and memory. The animation provides an interactive illustration of how activity-dependent changes in the glutamate receptor composition and numbers at the synapse may contribute to synaptic plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. a-contractor@northwestern.edu <a-contractor@northwestern.edu>
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Heinemann
mesh_terms: D006295:Health Resources; D009040:Motion Pictures; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D013663:Teaching
chemical_list: D018091:Receptors, AMPA