title: A role for zinc in postsynaptic density asSAMbly and plasticity?
abstract: Chemical synapses are asymmetric cell junctions that mediate communication between neurons. Multidomain scaffolding proteins of the Shank family act as major organizing elements of the "postsynaptic density"--that is, the cytoskeletal protein matrix associated with the postsynaptic membrane. A recent study has shown that the C-terminal sterile alpha-motif or "SAM domain" of Shank3 (also known as ProSAP2) can form two-dimensional sheets of helical fibers. Assembly and packaging of these fibers are markedly enhanced by the presence of Zn2+ ions. Zn2+ can be released together with glutamate from synaptic vesicles and can enter the postsynaptic cell through specific ionotropic receptors. Based on these observations, we propose a new model of synaptic plasticity in which Zn2+ influx directly and instantly modulates the structure and function of the postsynaptic density.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestrasse 6, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany. gundelfinger@ifn-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: Eckart D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gundelfinger
authors.forename: Tobias M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Boeckers
authors.forename: Marisa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: James U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Bowie
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C120532:Shank3 protein, rat; D015032:Zinc