What is it about?
Brain cells communicate with each other through contact sites, called synapses. How efficiently information is sent from one cell to another is likely important for memory formation. By looking at an unusual molecule on synapses from a brain region called the habenula, we discovered a surprisingly new way how synaptic connections can be strengthened. To understand how this works, we developed the "Flash and Freeze-fracture" method with which we could study the movements of molecules in the synapse that occur within 1/1000th of a second.
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Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
Why is it important?
It is important to understand synaptic modulation as it may help to develop new treatment options to re-strengthen neuronal communication in diseases where this communication might be impaired or lost.
Perspectives
I am very happy that we finally discovered WHAT the GABAB receptor is doing to strengthen the communication on habenula synapses. The next step is to find out HOW the receptor is doing this.
Peter Koppensteiner
Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: GABA
B
receptors induce phasic release from medial habenula terminals through activity-dependent recruitment of release-ready vesicles, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301449121.
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