Asymmetry of an Intracellular Scaffold at Vertebrate Electrical Synapses.

ABSTRACT: Neuronal synaptic connections are either chemical or electrical, and these two types of synapses work together to dynamically define neural circuit function [1]. Although we know a great deal about the molecules that support chemical synapse formation and function, we know little about the macromolecular complexes that regulate electrical synapses. Electrical synapses are created by gap junction (GJ) channels that provide direct ionic communication between neurons [2]. Although they are often molecularly and functionally symmetric, recent work has found that pre- and postsynaptic neurons can contribute different GJ-forming proteins, creating molecularly asymmetric channels that are correlated with functional asymmetry at the synapse [3, 4]. Associated with the GJs are structures observed b

SUBMITTER: Marsh AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5698123 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature