Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses
Synaptic transmission is essential for controlling motor functions and maintaining brain functions such as walking, breathing, cognition, learning, and memory. Neurotransmitter release is regulated by presynaptic molecules assembled in active zones of presynaptic terminals. The size of presynaptic t...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/179 |
| _version_ | 1797482287658434560 |
|---|---|
| author | Kenji Takikawa Hiroshi Nishimune |
| author_facet | Kenji Takikawa Hiroshi Nishimune |
| author_sort | Kenji Takikawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Synaptic transmission is essential for controlling motor functions and maintaining brain functions such as walking, breathing, cognition, learning, and memory. Neurotransmitter release is regulated by presynaptic molecules assembled in active zones of presynaptic terminals. The size of presynaptic terminals varies, but the size of a single active zone and the types of presynaptic molecules are highly conserved among neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and central synapses. Three parameters play an important role in the determination of neurotransmitter release properties at NMJs and central excitatory/inhibitory synapses: the number of presynaptic molecular clusters, the protein families of the presynaptic molecules, and the distance between presynaptic molecules and voltage-gated calcium channels. In addition, dysfunction of presynaptic molecules causes clinical symptoms such as motor and cognitive decline in patients with various neurological disorders and during aging. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the functional similarities and differences between excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and summarizes recent findings regarding presynaptic molecules assembled in the active zone. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between functional alterations of presynaptic molecules and dysfunction of NMJs or central synapses in diseases and during aging. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:31:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7863a128158443a8b44ea9b9937973e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:31:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7863a128158443a8b44ea9b9937973e2023-11-23T18:57:43ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-01-0112217910.3390/biom12020179Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central SynapsesKenji Takikawa0Hiroshi Nishimune1Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, JapanLaboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, JapanSynaptic transmission is essential for controlling motor functions and maintaining brain functions such as walking, breathing, cognition, learning, and memory. Neurotransmitter release is regulated by presynaptic molecules assembled in active zones of presynaptic terminals. The size of presynaptic terminals varies, but the size of a single active zone and the types of presynaptic molecules are highly conserved among neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and central synapses. Three parameters play an important role in the determination of neurotransmitter release properties at NMJs and central excitatory/inhibitory synapses: the number of presynaptic molecular clusters, the protein families of the presynaptic molecules, and the distance between presynaptic molecules and voltage-gated calcium channels. In addition, dysfunction of presynaptic molecules causes clinical symptoms such as motor and cognitive decline in patients with various neurological disorders and during aging. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the functional similarities and differences between excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and summarizes recent findings regarding presynaptic molecules assembled in the active zone. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between functional alterations of presynaptic molecules and dysfunction of NMJs or central synapses in diseases and during aging.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/179active zoneagedBassoonGABAglutamateMunc13 |
| spellingShingle | Kenji Takikawa Hiroshi Nishimune Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses Biomolecules active zone aged Bassoon GABA glutamate Munc13 |
| title | Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses |
| title_full | Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses |
| title_fullStr | Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses |
| title_short | Similarity and Diversity of Presynaptic Molecules at Neuromuscular Junctions and Central Synapses |
| title_sort | similarity and diversity of presynaptic molecules at neuromuscular junctions and central synapses |
| topic | active zone aged Bassoon GABA glutamate Munc13 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/2/179 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kenjitakikawa similarityanddiversityofpresynapticmoleculesatneuromuscularjunctionsandcentralsynapses AT hiroshinishimune similarityanddiversityofpresynapticmoleculesatneuromuscularjunctionsandcentralsynapses |