Molecular dynamics and interactions regulating inhibitory synapse formation

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870826
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General physiology; Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Nakahata Yoshihisa 生理学研究所, 発達生理学研究系, 特別研究員 (50726536)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 抑制性シナプス / シナプス編成 / 培養神経細胞 / グリシン受容体 / ゲフィリン / ライブセルイメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

GABA and glycine mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the central nervous system. Although the molecular elements of inhibitory synapses, such as GABAA or glycine receptors and gephyrin, a scaffolding protein are important for establishing inhibitory synapses, dynamic interactions between these molecules in live neurons are still elusive. We studied trafficking and localizations of glycine receptors and gephyrin. The present results suggest that the mobility of gephyrin is lower than glycine receptors, and its stability is unaffected by glycine receptor activation within one hour. Furthermore, the synaptic localization of gephyrin may be a prerequisite for the postsynaptic clustering of glycine receptors.

Free Research Field

神経科学