Building excitatory and inhibitory synapses: balancing neuroligin partnerships.
Processing of neural information is thought to occur by integration of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. As such, precise control mechanisms must exist to maintain an appropriate balance between each synapse type. Recent findings indicate that neuroligins and their synaptic binding partners modulate the development of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Here we highlight these findings and discuss a mechanism potentially involved in controlling the balance between excitation and inhibition.
Levinson
Joshua N
JN
Department of Psychiatry and Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3.
El-Husseini
Alaa
A
D000818:Animals; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins