Structural And Functional Organization Of The Synapse
Synapses play a central role in the brain by mediating signal transmission between neurons. This book provides a fundamental description of the synapse by leading experts in the field. Each individual synapse carries out its numerous functions in a tiny s
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STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE SYNAPSE Edited by
Johannes W. Hell University of Iowa Iowa City, IA, USA and Michael D. Ehlers Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
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Editors Johannes W. Hell Department of Pharmacology 2-512 BSB University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242
Michael D. Ehlers Department of Neurobiology Duke University Medical Center Box 3209 Durham, NC 27710
ISBN: 978-0-387-77231-8 e-ISBN: 978-0-387-77232-5 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-77232-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2007941249 © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of going to press, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Cover illustration: The cover illustration shows an immunofluorsecence micrograph of a hippocampal pyramidal neuron at two weeks in culture. The neuron was stained for the abundant calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase CaMKII (green) and the presynaptic protein synapsin (red). The pictures was provided by Y. Chen and J. W. Hell, University of Iowa. Printed on acid-free paper 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com
With special dedication to our late friend and colleague Alaa El-Husseini
Preface
The synapse is a fascinating structure for many reasons. Biologically, it is an exquisitely organized subcellular compartment that has a remarkable capacity for fidelity and endurance. Computationally, synapses play a central role in signal transmission and processing that represent evolution’s solution to learning and memory. Nervous systems, including our own brains, possess an extraordinary capacity for adaptation and memory because the synapse, not the neuron, constitutes the basic unit for information storage. Because the molecular complexities underlying signal processing and information storage must occur within the tiny space of the synapse, the precise molecular organization of proteins, lipids, and membranes at the synapse is paramount. Given the central role of the synapse in neuronal communication, it comes as no surprise that dysregulation of the synapse accounts for many, if not most,
