title: The role of synapsins in neuronal development.
abstract: The synapsins, the first identified synaptic vesicle-specific proteins, are phosphorylated on multiple sites by a number of protein kinases and are involved in neurite outgrowth and synapse formation as well as in synaptic transmission. In mammals, the synapsin family consists of at least 10 isoforms encoded by 3 distinct genes and composed by a mosaic of conserved and variable domains. The synapsins are highly conserved evolutionarily, and orthologues have been found in invertebrates and lower vertebrates. Within nerve terminals, synapsins are implicated in multiple interactions with presynaptic proteins and the actin cytoskeleton. Via these interactions, synapsins control several mechanisms important for neuronal homeostasis. In this review, we describe the main functional features of the synapsins, in relation to the complex role played by these phosphoproteins in neuronal development.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute University, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Fornasiero
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonanomi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benfenati
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valtorta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016704:Synapsins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016704:Synapsins