This damages nerve cells by blocking their ability to make the proteins needed
for synaptic function and leads to the death of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
In nerve cells, ribosomes are also found close to the synapses of the dendrites, thus enabling proteins that are required
for synaptic function to be produced close to their sites of action.
Not exact matches
Thus, synaptobrevin 2 may
function in catalyzing fusion reactions and stabilizing fusion intermediates but is not absolutely required
for synaptic fusion.
These genes are believed to be essential
for the normal
function of nerve cells, and previous studies have linked these mutations to problems with
synaptic function — how neurons communicate with each other.
This regulation is spectacularly apparent in the exquisite speed and precision of
synaptic exocytosis, where synaptotagmin (the calcium - ion sensor
for fusion) cooperates with complexin (the clamp activator) to control the precisely timed release of neurotransmitters that initiates
synaptic transmission and underlies brain
function.
The structure of synaptophysin suggests that the protein may
function as a channel in the
synaptic vesicle membrane, with the carboxyl terminus serving as a binding site
for cellular factors.
«The appropriate balance of synapses strengthening and weakening, collectively termed
synaptic plasticity, is critical
for appropriate brain
function.
Closer inspection of neuronal activity did reveal that reducing BACE1 activity did not completely restore
synaptic functions and the researchers do suggest that caution is still warranted as the enzyme does seem to be fundamental
for optimal cognitive
function.
We will explore the
function of these genes in controlling
synaptic homeostasis, develop novel imaging approaches to visualize homeostatic changes in real time, and systematically screen genes implicated in aging and longevity
for roles in homeostatic plasticity.
Neuralized 1 activates CPEB3: A
function for nonproteolytic ubiquitin in
synaptic plasticity... Lire la suite
A role of glutamine has been defined
for normal
synaptic function (J Neurochem 2008) as well as dendritic retrograde signaling (Cereb Cortex 2009c), and a potential target uncovered in Alzheimer's disease (Neurochem Res 2008).
Important aspects are how nerve endings provide glutamate
for synaptic release and how they recover released glutamate
for reuse, as well as how synapses provide energy
for synaptic transmission and how astrocytes can modulate neuronal
function.
NMDA - Rs are expressed in both neurons and glia (Conti et al., 1997; Verkhratsky and Kirchhoff, 2007), and selective genetic access to these cell classes in the brain could allow
for dissection of their relative role in
synaptic function.
For example, KBs were recently reported to act as neuroprotective agents by raising ATP levels and reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in neurological tissues, 80 together with increased mitochondrial biogenesis, which may help to enhance the regulation of synaptic function.80 Moreover, the increased synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulated by a KD may have a role in the regulation of neuronal membrane excitability: it has been demonstrated, for example, that polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the excitability of neurons by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels.81 Another possibility is that by reducing glucose metabolism, ketogenic diets may activate anticonvulsant mechanisms, as has been reported in a rat model.82 In addition, caloric restriction per se has been suggested to exert neuroprotective effects, including improved mitochondrial function, decreased oxidative stress and apoptosis, and inhibition of proinflammatory mediators, such as the cytokines tumour necrosis factor - α and interleukins.83 Although promising data have been collected (see below), at the present time the real clinical benefits of ketogenic diets in most neurological diseases remain largely speculative and uncertain, with the significant exception of its use in the treatment of convulsion diseas
For example, KBs were recently reported to act as neuroprotective agents by raising ATP levels and reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in neurological tissues, 80 together with increased mitochondrial biogenesis, which may help to enhance the regulation of
synaptic function.80 Moreover, the increased synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulated by a KD may have a role in the regulation of neuronal membrane excitability: it has been demonstrated,
for example, that polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the excitability of neurons by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels.81 Another possibility is that by reducing glucose metabolism, ketogenic diets may activate anticonvulsant mechanisms, as has been reported in a rat model.82 In addition, caloric restriction per se has been suggested to exert neuroprotective effects, including improved mitochondrial function, decreased oxidative stress and apoptosis, and inhibition of proinflammatory mediators, such as the cytokines tumour necrosis factor - α and interleukins.83 Although promising data have been collected (see below), at the present time the real clinical benefits of ketogenic diets in most neurological diseases remain largely speculative and uncertain, with the significant exception of its use in the treatment of convulsion diseas
for example, that polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the excitability of neurons by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels.81 Another possibility is that by reducing glucose metabolism, ketogenic diets may activate anticonvulsant mechanisms, as has been reported in a rat model.82 In addition, caloric restriction per se has been suggested to exert neuroprotective effects, including improved mitochondrial
function, decreased oxidative stress and apoptosis, and inhibition of proinflammatory mediators, such as the cytokines tumour necrosis factor - α and interleukins.83 Although promising data have been collected (see below), at the present time the real clinical benefits of ketogenic diets in most neurological diseases remain largely speculative and uncertain, with the significant exception of its use in the treatment of convulsion diseases.
Maternal care and hippocampal plasticity: evidence
for experience - dependent structural plasticity, altered
synaptic functioning, and differential responsiveness to glucocorticoids and stress.