Differential functional constraints on the evolution of postsynaptic density proteins in neocortical laminae.

ABSTRACT: The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a protein dense complex on the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses that is implicated in normal nervous system functions such as synaptic plasticity, and also contains an enrichment of proteins involved in neuropsychiatric disorders. It has recently been reported that the genes encoding PSD proteins evolved more slowly than other genes in the human brain, but the underlying evolutionary advantage for this is not clear. Here, we show that cortical gene expression levels could explain most of this effect, indicating that expression level is a primary contributor to the evolution of these genes in the brain. Furthermore, we identify a positive correlation between the expression of PSD genes and cortical layers, with PSD genes being more highly expres

SUBMITTER: Wang GZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3386249 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature