Investigating the function of astrocytes during neurotrophin-induced synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity

新兴的“三方突触”概念指出了神经胶质细胞对神经元功能和发育的重要性。虽然星形胶质细胞对于突触接触的形成和维持、感觉神经元活动和积极参与稳态缩放很重要，但星形胶质细胞蛋白质组是否像神经元一样动态尚不清楚。近年来，神经营养因子已成为影响神经元和星形胶质细胞突触发生和突触可塑性的重要调节剂。因此，本文旨在通过基于最近开发的BONCAT技术，在星形胶质细胞-神经元共培养中进行细胞类型特异性蛋白质组学分析，探索神经营养因子诱导的突触可塑性背景下神经元-星形胶质细胞之间的关系。此外，提出的胶质蛋白质组动力学应通过可视化的神经元和星形胶质细胞之间的接触点在共培养系统进行检查。这项工作将加深我们对神经元-神经胶质伙伴关系的分子和系统方面的理解。

The emerging concept of the “Tripartite synapse” points to the importance of glia cells for neuronal function and development. Although it is well established that astrocytes are important for the formation and maintenance of synaptic contacts, sense neuronal activity and actively participate in homeostatic scaling, it is unclear if the astroglial proteome is as dynamic as the neuronal. In recent years neurotrophins have emerged as important modulators of synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity influencing both neurons and astrocytes. Therefore, I herein aim to explore the neuron-astroglia relationship in the context of neurotrophin-induced synaptic plasticity by performing cell-type specific proteomic profiling in astroglial-neuronal co-cultures based on the recently developed technique BONCAT. In addition, the proposed glial proteome dynamics shall be examined by visualization of the contact sites between neurons and astrocytes in the co-culture system. This work will deepen our understanding of the molecular and systemic aspects of the neuron-glia partnership.