The excitatory postsynaptic density is a size exclusion diffusion environment
Language
en
Article de revue
This item was published in
Neuropharmacology. 2009-01, vol. 56, n° 1, p. 30-36
Elsevier
English Abstract
Receptors are concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane but can enter and exit synapses rapidly during both basal turnover and processes of synaptic plasticity. How the exchange of receptors by lateral diffusion between ...Read more >
Receptors are concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane but can enter and exit synapses rapidly during both basal turnover and processes of synaptic plasticity. How the exchange of receptors by lateral diffusion between synaptic and extrasynaptic areas is regulated remains largely unknown. We investigated the structural properties of the postsynaptic membrane that allow these movements by addressing the diffusion behaviors of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and different lipids. Using single molecule tracking we found that not only AMPARs but also lipids, which are not synaptically enriched, display confined diffusion at synapses. Each molecule type displays a different average confinement area, smaller molecules being confined to smaller areas. Glutamate application increases the mobility of all molecules. The structure of the synaptic membrane is thus probably organized as a size exclusion matrix and this controls the rate of exchange of molecules with the extrasynaptic membrane.Read less <
English Keywords
Postsynaptic density
Synaptic transmission
Brownian diffusion
Single molecule tracking
AMPA receptors
Lipids
European Project
QLG3-CT-2001-02089
Origin
Hal imported