SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY IN THE MAMMALIAN BRAIN

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Regulation of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking toward and away from synapses plays a relevant role in synaptogenesis, synapse maturation and various forms of synaptic plasticity. Current methods used to specifically label and study AMPAR dynamics (immunolabeling, electrophysiological and biochemical measurements, fusion with fluorescent proteins) are limited in their ability to answer questions on the location and trafficking of newly synthesized AMPAR subunits. It is also difficult to determine whether synthesis of AMPARs occurs locally in the dendritic compartment and, if so, whether this is modulated by activity. We have now applied 4Cys tags and FlAsH/ReAsH pulse-chase labeling for directly examining and comparing the local trafficking of preexisting and recently synthesized proteins in specific subcellular domains.