Dynamic stabilization: Structural plasticity at inhibitory postsynaptic sites.
Rearrangement of molecular structures at individual synapses can contribute to network plasticity. At mossy fiber presynaptic terminals, experience regulates both connectivity and structure of individual boutons. Moreover, dendritic spines and postsynaptic densities of glutamatergic synapses rapidly form and remodel in an activity-dependent manner. Recent studies of the postsynaptic scaffold molecule gephyrin have now revealed that also inhibitory shaft synapses undergo rapid remodeling at the postsynaptic scaffold level. Taking into account that also surface membrane receptors are highly mobile, local coincidence of receptors and scaffold elements in adjacent layers at dendritic shafts might depend on regulatory processes underlying synaptic plasticity.
Kneussel
Matthias
M
Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie Hamburg, ZMNH, Universität Hamburg, Falkenried 94, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany. matthias.kneussel@zmnh.uni-hamburg.de
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D021381:Protein Transport; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C073441:gephyrin