Structural and functional studies of inhibitory postsynapse formation and maintenance

在神经元之间的信息传递中，突触后部位的神经递质受体的数量是一个关键的决定因素，因此必须受到精确的调控。这项任务是由一个有趣的受体相关蛋白网络完成的，它介导了受体锚定和受体运输的潜在过程。这项建议研究了含有GABAA和甘氨酸受体的抑制性突触的突触后网络中的关键蛋白质。本研究采用生化、生物物理、细胞生物学和结构分析等方法，研究抑制性突触的中心组织者--吉普林和鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子胶粘素以及它们的结合伙伴在抑制性神经递质受体聚集中的作用。

In the transmission of information between neurons the number of neurotransmitter receptors at postsynaptic sites is a critical determinant and therefore must be precisely regulated. This task is accomplished by an intriguing network of receptor-associated proteins, which mediate the underlying processes of receptor anchoring and receptor transport. This proposal investigates key proteins within the postsynaptic network of inhibitory synapses containing GABAA and glycine receptors. Our studies employ biochemical, biophysical, cell biological and structural methods to investigate the contribution of gephyrin, a central organizer of inhibitory synapses, and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor collybistin as well as their binding partners to the clustering of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors.