MAGUK proteins: new targets for pharmacological intervention in the glutamatergic synapse.
In the postsynaptic density of excitatory glutamatergic synapses, membrane associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) proteins, such as Post-Synaptic Density 95 (PSD-95), organize ionotropic glutamate receptors and their associated signalling proteins regulating the strength of synaptic activity. Modifications of MAGUK proteins function in the glutamatergic synapse such as alterations of MAGUK proteins interaction with N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors regulatory subunits are common events in several neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, a better knowledge and understanding of MAGUK structure and function as well as of the molecular events regulating MAGUK-mediated interactions in the glutamatergic synapse could lead to the identification of new targets for pharmaceutical intervention for neurodegenerative diseases.
Gardoni
Fabrizio
F
Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. fabrizio.gardoni@unimi.it
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D051528:Guanylate Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; C501444:DLG4 protein, human; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007980:Levodopa; D051528:Guanylate Kinases