Organization and regulation of proteins at synapses.

The organization and regulation of synaptic connections in the mammalian nervous system entail complicated and co-ordinated molecular and cellular processes. The unveiling of various protein-protein interactions and their functional consequences at synapses have led to a greater understanding of the process of synapse formation and the modulation of synaptic transmission. Recent studies indicate that the major excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, the glutamate receptors, are associated with many different molecules that are involved in the formation of elaborate synaptic cytoskeletal networks and signal transduction cascades. These complex protein networks may play critical roles in the regulation of neurotransmitter receptor function and the efficacy of synaptic transmission.