The role of receptor diffusion in synaptic plasticity

Daniel Choquet and Antoine Triller (The role of receptor diffusion in the organization of the postsynaptic membrane, Nature Review Neuroscience, Vol. 4, No 4, 251-265, 2003) in the April issue of Nature Review Neuroscience reviewed works on neurotransmitter receptors movements, one of the core mechanisms for rapidly changing the number of functional receptors during synaptic plasticity. In fact recent researches have shown that rapid gain and loss of receptors from synaptic sites are accounted for by endocytosis and exocytosis, as well as by lateral diffusion of receptors in the plane of the membrane. These events are interdependent and are regulated by neuronal activity and interactions with scaffolding proteins. Choquet and Triller focused their attention on the physical laws that govern receptor diffusion and stabilization.

BM&L-April 2003