Article
Cell Biology
Luca Franchini, Jennifer Stanic, Marta Barzasi, Elisa Zianni, Daniela Mauceri, Monica Diluca, Fabrizio Gardoni
Summary: This study demonstrates a key role for Rph3A in the modulation of structural synaptic plasticity at hippocampal synapses, which correlates with its interactions with both NMDARs and AMPARs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Italia, Elena Ferrari, Monica Diluca, Fabrizio Gardoni
Summary: A prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases is synaptic dysfunction and spine loss. Misfolded proteins, such as tau and alpha-synuclein, play a critical role in driving synaptic toxicity at excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Understanding the role of these proteins in impairing the function of glutamate receptors can provide insights into the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ewa Baczynska, Katarzyna Karolina Pels, Subhadip Basu, Jakub Wlodarczyk, Blazej Ruszczycki
Summary: This article reviews experimental approaches designed to assess quantitative features of dendritic spines under physiological stimuli and in pathological conditions. By comparing various methodological pipelines and systematically summarizing the methodology and results of relevant experiments, the focus is on quantitative data regarding the number of animals, cells, dendritic spines, types of studied parameters, size of observed changes, and their statistical significance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hanieh Falahati, Yumei Wu, Vanessa Feuerer, Hans-Georg Simon, Pietro De Camilli
Summary: The spine apparatus, a specialized compartment of the neuronal smooth ER, is still poorly understood. The identification of proteins associated with the spine apparatus provides insights into its biogenesis and maintenance, as well as its role in physiological and pathological processes in dendritic spines.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin Hruska, Rachel E. Cain, Matthew B. Dalva
Summary: This study reveals the impact of nanoscale organization of glutamate receptors on synaptic features, with receptors containing specific subunits forming specific subsynaptic regions, which is crucial for events such as cell death and synaptic plasticity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Netanel Ofer, Daniel R. Berger, Narayanan Kasthuri, Jeff W. Lichtman, Rafael Yuste
Summary: By using electron microscopy to reconstruct dendritic spines with nanometer precision, it was found that the morphological parameters of spine heads and necks have unimodal distributions, indicating the lack of evidence for subtypes of spines. The size of the postsynaptic density was strongly correlated with the spine head volume, and the spine neck diameter was also correlated with the head volume. These results suggest that the spine neck length and head volume must be independently regulated.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Scholl, Connon I. Thomas, Melissa A. Ryan, Naomi Kamasawa, David Fitzpatrick
Summary: The role of strong synapses in shaping neuronal selectivity in cortical circuits is challenged by findings that show selectivity arises from the total number of activated synapses rather than a small number of strong ones. Additionally, clustering of co-active inputs appears to be reserved for weaker synapses, enhancing their contribution to somatic responses. The study suggests that selectivity in cortical neuron responses to visual stimuli is driven by the co-activation of large populations of presynaptic neurons with a mixture of strengths.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
YuWei Cao, Chun Shen, Hu Qiu, WanLin Guo
Summary: Dendritic spines receive synaptic inputs and play a crucial role in initiating dendritic NMDA spikes and action potentials. The number and morphology of spines constantly change during learning and memory processes. This study investigates the influence of spine number and morphology on dendritic NMDA spikes and reveals that the threshold number of spines differs between distal and proximal dendrites due to differences in impedance. Additionally, the presence of more AMPA receptors on spines leads to larger NMDA spikes. The findings highlight the importance of the dynamic distribution of spine number and morphology in neurodegenerative diseases.
SCIENCE CHINA-TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cheng Qin, Xin-Lan Bian, Hai-Yin Wu, Jia-Yun Xian, Yu-Hui Lin, Cheng-Yun Cai, Ying Zhou, Xiao-Lin Kou, Ting-You Li, Lei Chang, Chun-Xia Luo, Dong-Ya Zhu
Summary: The study reveals that the association of nNOS with CAPON in the medial prefrontal cortex negatively regulates extinction memory, and dissociating this association can prevent the return of extinguished fear, enhancing long-term potentiation and excitatory synaptic transmission.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Greta Maiellano, Lucrezia Scandella, Maura Francolini
Summary: Volume reconstruction from electron microscopy datasets is a valuable tool for studying the ultrastructure of synapses and understanding their functional states, particularly in relation to neuronal networks. Recent discoveries on the substructure of central excitatory synapses have provided insights into the correlation between synapse geometry and functional states. The use of volume electron microscopy analyses has revealed new parameters that contribute to the understanding of synapse strength and activity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xi Su, Wenqiang Li, Zhen Li, Kang Liu, Meng Song, Minglong Shao, Luxian Lv, Xulu Chang
Summary: Chronic exposure to low-dose 1-octyl3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate induced neurotoxicity in rats, resulting in behavioral abnormalities and damage to glutamatergic excitatory synapses.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Luisa Speranza, Yanis Inglebert, Claudia De Sanctis, Pei You Wu, Magdalena Kalinowska, R. Anne McKinney, Anna Francesconi
Summary: This study found that mGluR-LTD occurs in spines containing Synaptopodin/SA, while spines lacking Synaptopodin/SA are selectively lost. This process is dependent on mGluR1 and can selectively preserve stronger spines while eliminating weaker ones through mechanisms like physical retention and protein degradation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Balaganesh Kuruba, Nickolas Starks, Mary Rose Josten, Ori Naveh, Gary Wayman, Marina Mikhaylova, Alla S. Kostyukova
Summary: Dendritic spines, actin-rich protrusions that receive signals from axons at synapses, are affected by remodeling of cytoskeletal actin. Tropomodulin 2 (Tmod2), a brain-specific isoform, plays a role in regulating dendritic spine re-organization by binding to the pointed end of actin filaments through actin and tropomyosin binding sites. Overexpression of Tmod2 decreases spine number and increases spine length, and disrupting its binding abilities affects spine motility and stability.
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Laxmi Kumar Parajuli, Masato Koike
Summary: EM is essential for visualizing synaptic morphology and quantifying synaptic transmission parameters. Automated EM tools have improved throughput for imaging and reconstructing dendritic segments effectively.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Nicole LaMassa, Hanna Sverdlov, Aliya Mambetalieva, Stacy Shapiro, Michael Bucaro, Monica Fernandez-Monreal, Greg R. Phillips
Summary: Clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs) are a family of cadherin-like proteins that regulate dendrite morphology and neural connectivity through epigenetic regulation. These proteins may influence dendritic development and synaptogenesis through anti-adhesive and pro-adhesive mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Cristina Rosello-Busquets, Natalia de la Oliva, Ramon Martinez-Marmol, Marc Hernaiz-Llorens, Marta Pascual, Ashraf Muhaisen, Xavier Navarro, Jaume del Valle, Eduardo Soriano
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Antoni Parcerisas, Lluis Pujadas, Alba Ortega-Gasco, Bartomeu Perello-Amoros, Ricardo Viais, Keiko Hino, Joana Figueiro-Silva, Anna La Torre, Ramon Trullas, Sergi Simo, Jens Luders, Eduardo Soriano
Article
Neurosciences
Albert Giralt, Veronica Brito, Monica Pardo, Sara E. Rubio, Lucile Marion-Poll, Raquel Martin-Ibanez, Alfonsa Zamora-Moratalla, Carles Bosch, Jesus J. Ballesteros, Esther Blasco, Aida Garcia-Torralba, Marta Pascual, Marti Pumarola, Jordi Alberch, Silvia Gines, Eduardo D. Martin, Jose Segovia, Eduardo Soriano, Josep M. Canals
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2020)
Review
Neurosciences
Daniela Rossi, Agnes Gruart, Gerardo Contreras-Murillo, Ashraf Muhaisen, Jesus Avila, Jose Maria Delgado-Garcia, Lluis Pujadas, Eduardo Soriano
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Cell Biology
Ruben Dario Castro-Torres, Oriol Busquets, Antoni Parcerisas, Ester Verdaguer, Jordi Olloquequi, Miren Etchetto, Carlos Beas-Zarate, Jaume Folch, Antoni Camins, Carme Auladell
Review
Neurosciences
Oriol Busquets, Antoni Parcerisas, Ester Verdaguer, Miren Ettcheto, Antoni Camins, Carlos Beas-Zarate, Ruben Dario Castro-Torres, Carme Auladell
Summary: This review discusses the involvement of c-Jun N-terminal Kinases (JNKs) in early alterations of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including synaptic loss and dysregulation of neuronal transport. The interactions between JNKs and these processes contribute to cognitive decline in AD, with disruptions in cellular processes such as glutamatergic, GABA, and cholinergic synapses. Furthermore, the review highlights the role of the JNK-JIP complex in controlling neuronal transport and the impact of amyloid-beta aggregates and hyperphosphorylated tau on this process.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoni Parcerisas, Alba Ortega-Gasco, Marc Hernaiz-Llorens, Maria Antonia Odena, Fausto Ulloa, Eliandre de Oliveira, Miquel Bosch, Lluis Pujadas, Eduardo Soriano
Summary: NCAM2 is a membrane protein crucial for neuronal development, interacting with over 100 proteins involved in processes such as neuronal morphogenesis and synaptogenesis. The cytosolic tail of NCAM2.1 isoform contains specific phosphorylation site motifs with affinity for key interactors like NEFs and MAP2. These findings highlight the important role of NCAM2 in cytoskeleton organization and neuronal development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoni Parcerisas, Alba Ortega-Gasco, Lluis Pujadas, Eduardo Soriano
Summary: NCAM2, the second member of the NCAM family, plays a crucial role in nervous system development and adulthood, especially in neuronal morphogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Its functions are related to its ability to adapt to external inputs of the cell and modify the cytoskeleton accordingly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carles Bosch, Tobias Ackels, Alexandra Pacureanu, Yuxin Zhang, Christopher J. Peddie, Manuel Berning, Norman Rzepka, Marie-Christine Zdora, Isabell Whiteley, Malte Storm, Anne Bonnin, Christoph Rau, Troy Margrie, Lucy Collinson, Andreas T. Schaefer
Summary: The study integrates insights from physiology and structure, using a combination of different microscopy techniques to explore the function and structural features of biological tissues. The study identifies differences between two types of neurons, providing important clues for further research on neural circuits.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Carles Bosch, Joerg Lindenau, Alexandra Pacureanu, Christopher J. Peddie, Marta Majkut, Andrew C. Douglas, Raffaella Carzaniga, Alexander Rack, Lucy Collinson, Andreas T. Schaefer, Heiko Stegmann
Summary: Correlative multimodal imaging is a valuable method for investigating complex structural relations in life sciences. It requires establishing sample preparation workflows that are compatible with multiple imaging techniques. This can involve imaging a fluorescently labeled region of interest in a biological soft tissue sample with light microscopy before staining the specimen with heavy metals for higher resolution structural imaging.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lucy M. Collinson, Carles Bosch, Anwen Bullen, Jemima J. Burden, Raffaella Carzaniga, Cheng Cheng, Michele C. Darrow, Georgina Fletcher, Errin Johnson, Kedar Narayan, Christopher J. Peddie, Martyn Winn, Charles Wood, Ardan Patwardhan, Gerard J. Kleywegt, Paul Verkade
Summary: Volume electron microscopy (vEM) is a set of techniques that can reveal the 3D structure of cells and tissues at depths of at least 1 micrometer. An emerging grassroots community effort is rapidly showcasing the impact of vEM technology in life sciences and clinical research.
Article
Neurosciences
Monica Pardo, Sara Gregorio, Enrica Montalban, Lluis Pujadas, Alba Elias-Tersa, Nuria Masachs, Alba Vilchez-Acosta, Annabelle Parent, Carme Auladell, Jean-Antoine Girault, Miquel Vila, Angus C. C. Nairn, Yasmina Manso, Eduardo Soriano
Summary: Reelin protein is implicated in psychiatric disorders, but its effects on the structure and neuronal composition of the striatum are not well understood. This study found that overexpression of Reelin protein increases the numbers of striatal interneurons and cholinergic neurons, and slightly increases the tyrosine hydroxylase-positive projections from the substantia nigra to the striatum. These findings suggest that increased levels of Reelin may protect against neuropsychiatric disorders by modifying these structures and neuronal numbers.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)