GABA and neuroligin signaling: linking synaptic activity and adhesion in inhibitory synapse development

Huang, Z. J., Scheiffele, P. (February 2008) GABA and neuroligin signaling: linking synaptic activity and adhesion in inhibitory synapse development. Curr Opin Neurobiology, 18 (1). pp. 77-83.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18513949
DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2008.05.008

Abstract

GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition is crucial in neural circuit operations. In mammalian brains, the development of inhibitory synapses and innervation patterns is often a prolonged postnatal process, regulated by neural activity. Emerging evidence indicates that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) acts beyond inhibitory transmission and regulates inhibitory synapse development. Indeed, GABAA receptors not only function as chloride channels that regulate membrane voltage and conductance but also play structural roles in synapse maturation and stabilization. The link from GABAA receptors to postsynaptic and presynaptic adhesion is probably mediated, partly by neuroligin–reurexin interactions, which are potent in promoting GABAergic synapse formation. Therefore, similar to glutamate signaling at excitatory synapse, GABA signaling may coordinate maturation of presynaptic and postsynaptic sites at inhibitory synapses. Defining the many steps from GABA signaling to receptor trafficking/stability and neuroligin function will provide further mechanistic insights into activity-dependent development and possibly plasticity of inhibitory synapses.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > small molecules > GABAergic
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell functions > neural plasticity
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein receptor
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > sub-cellular tissues: types and functions > synapse
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Huang lab
Depositing User: CSHL Librarian
Date: February 2008
Date Deposited: 10 Apr 2012 18:47
Last Modified: 12 May 2015 15:20
PMCID: PMC3988756
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/25804

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