title: Building a synapse: a complex matter.
abstract: L-glutamate is the primary neurotransmitter at excitatory synapses in the vertebrate CNS and at arthropod neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). However, the molecular mechanisms that trigger the recruitment of glutamate receptors at the onset of synaptogenesis and promote their stabilization at postsynaptic densities remain poorly understood. We have reported the discovery of a novel, evolutionary conserved molecule, Neto, essential for clustering of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) at Drosophila NMJ. Neto is the first auxiliary subunit described in Drosophila and is the only non-channel subunit absolutely required for functional iGluRs. Here we review the role of Drosophila Neto in synapse assembly, its similarities with other Neto proteins and a new perspective on how glutamatergic synapses are physically assembled and stabilized.
authors.affiliation: 1Program in Cellular Regulation and Metabolism; NICHD; NIH; Bethesda, MD USA.
authors.forename: Young-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054792:Muscle, Striated / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism*; D057907:Post-Synaptic Density / Q000378:metabolism*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate
keywords: Drosophila; auxiliary subunits; glutamate receptors; glutamatergic synapses; neuromuscular junction; synapse assembly