Synapse formation and function: The neuromuscular Junction and the central nervous system

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (S16E) ◽  
pp. 216-237
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Synapse Formation ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals A Role for Frizzled and Their Post-Translational Modifications in the Mammalian Central Nervous System

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Pascual-Vargas ◽  
Patricia C. Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Synapse Formation ◽  
Neuronal Circuits ◽  
Motor Tasks ◽  
Neuronal Connectivity ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function

The Wnt pathway is a key signalling cascade that regulates the formation and function of neuronal circuits. The main receptors for Wnts are Frizzled (Fzd) that mediate diverse functions such as neurogenesis, axon guidance, dendritogenesis, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity. These processes are crucial for the assembly of functional neuronal circuits required for diverse functions ranging from sensory and motor tasks to cognitive performance. Indeed, aberrant Wnt–Fzd signalling has been associated with synaptic defects during development and in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. New studies suggest that the localisation and stability of Fzd receptors play a crucial role in determining Wnt function. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of Fzd are emerging as an important mechanism that regulates these Wnt receptors. However, only phosphorylation and glycosylation have been described to modulate Fzd function in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss the function of Fzd in neuronal circuit connectivity and how PTMs contribute to their function. We also discuss other PTMs, not yet described in the CNS, and how they might modulate the function of Fzd in neuronal connectivity. PTMs could modulate Fzd function by affecting Fzd localisation and stability at the plasma membrane resulting in local effects of Wnt signalling, a feature particularly important in polarised cells such as neurons. Our review highlights the importance of further studies into the role of PTMs on Fzd receptors in the context of neuronal connectivity.

scholarly journals Amino acid sequence of the encephalitogenic basic protein from human myelin

1971 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Carnegie
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Basic Protein ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

Myelin from the central nervous system contains an unusual basic protein, which can induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The basic protein from human brain was digested with trypsin and other enzymes and the sequence of the 170 amino acids was determined. The localization of the encephalitogenic determinants was described. Possible roles for the protein in the structure and function of myelin are discussed.

Axonal targeting of agrin in cultured rat dorsal horn neurons

1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (13) ◽  
pp. 2959-2966
Author(s):  
G. Escher ◽  
C. Bechade ◽  
S. Levi ◽  
A. Triller
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Dorsal Horn Neurons ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Agrin, a synaptic basal lamina protein synthesized by motoneurons is involved in the aggregation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) at the neuromuscular junction. Agrin transcripts are broadly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) including non-cholinergic regions. This wide distribution of agrin mRNAs raises the question of its function in these areas. To approach this question, we analysed the expression and cellular distribution of agrin in primary cultures of rat embryonic dorsal horn neurons. Polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that the four agrin isoform (B0, B8, B11, B19) mRNAs are expressed as early as 4 days in vitro, before the formation of functional synaptic contacts. Western blots also showed that agrin-like proteins are secreted in conditioned medium from 7 days cultures. We analysed the subcellular distribution of agrin by double immunolabeling and fluorescence microscopy. We found that agrin is synthesized by almost all neurons and was present in the somata and in the axons but not in dendrites within the sensitivity of the detection. This intra-axonal localisation of agrin could only be seen after permeabilization. Furthermore, agrin immunoreactive axons were found adjacent to gephyrin, the postsynaptic glycine receptor-associated protein. Altogether, our results suggest that, as established at the neuromuscular junction, agrin may be involved in pre- to postsynaptic interactions in the central nervous system.

scholarly journals Odorant Receptors Signaling Instructs the Development and Plasticity of the Glomerular Map

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Valle-Leija
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Odorant Receptors ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Olfactory Information ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
And Function

The olfactory system provides a great opportunity to explore the mechanisms that underlie the formation and function of neural circuits because of the simplicity of its structure. Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) located in the peripheral olfactory epithelium (OE) take part in the initial formation and function of glomeruli in the olfactory bulb (OB) inside the central nervous system. Glomeruli are key in the process of transduction of olfactory information, as they constitute a map in the OB that sorts the different types of odorant inputs. This odorant categorization allows proper olfactory perception, and it is achieved through the anatomical organization and function of the different glomerular circuits. Once formed, glomeruli keep the capacity to undergo diverse plasticity processes, which is unique among the different neural circuits of the central nervous system. In this context, through the expression and function of the odorant receptors (ORs), OSNs perform two of the most important roles in the olfactory system: transducing odorant information to the nervous system and initiating the development of the glomerular map to organize olfactory information. This review addresses essential information that has emerged in recent years about the molecular basis of these processes.

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