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Synapse reorganization—a new partnership revealed
Author(s) -
Saneyoshi Takeo,
Hayashi Yasunori
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/embj.201488619
Subject(s) - biology , general partnership , synapse , neuroscience , computational biology , economics , finance
Changes in synaptic function require both qualitative and quantitative reorganization of the synaptic components. Ca 2+ plays a central role in this process, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Zhang et al report a novel mechanism whereby Ca 2+ /calmodulin (CaM) regulates the stability of the postsynaptic scaffold. Ca 2+ /CaM interacts with PSD ‐95, a core protein in the postsynaptic density ( PSD ) that supports synaptic signaling and structural components. Ca 2+ /CaM interferes with the palmitoylation of PSD ‐95, resulting in the dissociation of PSD ‐95 from the postsynaptic membrane. This process may explain the reduction of surface glutamate receptor observed during synaptic depression and homeostatic regulation of the synaptic response after prolonged neuronal activity.