Presynaptic unsilencing: searching for a mechanism

Deniz Atasoy; Ege T Kavalali

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2006.04.018

Presynaptic unsilencing: searching for a mechanism

Neuron. 2006 May 4;50(3):345-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.04.018.

Authors

Deniz Atasoy¹, Ege T Kavalali

Affiliation

¹ Center for Basic Neuroscience, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.

PMID: 16675387
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.04.018

Abstract

Nascent synaptic networks have a high incidence of silent synapses. In this issue of Neuron, Shen et al. show that a brief burst of action potentials rapidly awaken silent synapses by increasing the availability of synaptic vesicles for fusion through BDNF-triggered presynaptic actin remodeling mediated by the small GTPase Cdc42.

Publication types

Comment
Review

MeSH terms

Actins / metabolism
Actins / ultrastructure
Animals
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
Cell Differentiation / physiology*
Humans
Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism*
Presynaptic Terminals / ultrastructure
Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism
Signal Transduction / physiology
Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism*
Synaptic Vesicles / ultrastructure
cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

Actins
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Receptors, Glutamate
cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein