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Role of the maguk protein family in synapse formation and function
Author(s) -
Oliva Carlos,
Escobedo Pía,
Astorga César,
Molina Claudia,
Sierralta Jimena
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
developmental neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.716
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1932-846X
pISSN - 1932-8451
DOI - 10.1002/dneu.20949
Subject(s) - guanylate kinase , scaffold protein , biology , postsynaptic density , synapse , microbiology and biotechnology , postsynaptic potential , synaptic plasticity , protein family , neuroscience , calmodulin , pdz domain , membrane protein , signal transduction , biochemistry , membrane , receptor , gene , enzyme
Synaptic function is crucially dependent on the spatial organization of the presynaptic and postsynaptic apparatuses and the juxtaposition of both membrane compartments. This precise arrangement is achieved by a protein network at the submembrane region of each cell that is built around scaffold proteins. The membrane‐associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family of proteins is a widely expressed and well‐conserved group of proteins that plays an essential role in the formation and regulation of this scaffolding. Here, we review general features of this protein family, focusing on the discs large and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent serine protein kinase subfamilies of MAGUKs in the formation, function, and plasticity of synapses. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 57–72, 2012