Neuroscience. Matters of size

Kopec, C. D., Malinow, R. (December 2006) Neuroscience. Matters of size. Science, 314 (5805). pp. 1554-5. ISSN 1095-9203 (Electronic)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17158312
DOI: 10.1126/science.1137595

Abstract

From the overall body plan of an organism to the intricate three-dimensional fold of proteins, structure is a key determinant of function. Neurons, the fundamental cells of the nervous system, are no exception. The architecture of their dendritic and axonal arbors—the cellular extensions that receive and transmit information—determines which neurons they can connect to, whereas the diameter of these extensions determines the speed and filtering of electrical signals that travel down them. Tiny femtoliter (10−15 liter)-sized protrusions from neuronal dendrites, called spines, receive a functional connection from another neuron's axon at a specialized area of contact known as a synapse. A study by Park et al. in a recent issue of Neuron (1) marks a large step forward in our understanding of how spine size and synaptic strength are balanced.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Actins metabolism Animals Dendrites physiology ultrastructure Dendritic Spines physiology ultrastructure Endosomes metabolism Exocytosis Lipid Metabolism Long-Term Potentiation Microfilaments physiology Microscopy Electron Microscopy Fluorescence Models Neurological Neurons physiology ultrastructure Receptors AMPA metabolism Synapses physiology Synaptic Transmission
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > design > protein design
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > axon
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > dendritic cells
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein expression
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Malinow lab
School of Biological Sciences > Publications
Depositing User: CSHL Librarian
Date: 8 December 2006
Date Deposited: 13 Dec 2011 16:56
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2014 18:45
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/22845

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