title: Lipid rafts, synaptic transmission and plasticity: impact in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: The synapse is a crowded area. In the last years, the concept that proteins can be organized in different membrane domains according to their structure has emerged. Cholesterol-rich membrane domains, or lipid rafts, form an organized portion of the membrane that is thought to concentrate signaling molecules. Accumulating evidence has shown that both the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic sites are highly enriched in lipid rafts, which are likely to organize and maintain synaptic proteins in their precise localization. Here we review recent studies highlighting the importance of lipid rafts for synaptic function and plasticity, as well as their relevance for age or disease-related cognitive impairment. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Cognitive Enhancers'.
authors: Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. anaseb@fm.ul.pt
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Sebastião
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Colino-Oliveira
authors: Natália
authors: N
authors: Assaife-Lopes
authors: Raquel B
authors: RB
authors: Dias
authors: Joaquim A
authors: JA
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents