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The Torpedo electrocyte: A model system to study membrane‐cytoskeleton interactions at the postsynaptic membrane
Author(s) -
Cartaud Jean,
Cartaud Annie,
Kordeli Ekaterini,
Ludosky Marie Aline,
Marchand Sophie,
StetzkowskiMarden Françoise
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(20000401)49:1<73::aid-jemt8>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - postsynaptic potential , agrin , postsynaptic density , microbiology and biotechnology , neurotransmission , acetylcholine receptor , neuromuscular junction , neuroscience , chemistry , synaptic cleft , torpedo , biology , biophysics , biochemistry , receptor
Many aspects of the organization of the electromotor synapse of electric fish resemble the nerve‐muscle junction. In particular, the postsynaptic membrane in both systems share most of their proteins. As a remarquable source of cholinergic synapses, the Torpedo electrocyte model has served to identify the most important components involved in synaptic transmission such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, as well as proteins associated with the subsynaptic cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix involved in the assembly of the postsynaptic membrane, namely the 43‐kDa protein‐rapsyn, the dystrophin/utrophin complex, agrin, and others. This review encompasses some representative experiments that helped to clarify essential aspects of the supramolecular organization and assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus of cholinergic synapses. Microsc. Res. Tech. 49:73–83, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.