Journal article
Understanding the Molecular and Cell Biological Mechanisms of Electrical Synapse Formation
Frontiers in neuroanatomy, Vol.14, p.12
04/15/2020
DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.00012
PMCID: PMC7179694
PMID: 32372919
Abstract
In this review article, we will describe the recent advances made towards understanding the molecular and cell biological mechanisms of electrical synapse formation. New evidence indicates that electrical synapses, which are gap junctions between neurons, can have complex molecular compositions including protein asymmetries across joined cells, diverse morphological arrangements, and overlooked similarities with other junctions, all of which indicate new potential roles in neurodevelopmental disease. Aquatic organisms, and in particular the vertebrate zebrafish, have proven to be excellent models for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of electrical synapse formation. Zebrafish will serve as our main exemplar throughout this review and will be compared with other model organisms. We highlight the known cell biological processes that build neuronal gap junctions and compare these with the assemblies of adherens junctions, tight junctions, non-neuronal gap junctions, and chemical synapses to explore the unknown frontiers remaining in our understanding of the critical and ubiquitous electrical synapse.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Understanding the Molecular and Cell Biological Mechanisms of Electrical Synapse Formation
- Creators
- E Anne Martin - University of OregonAbagael M. Lasseigne - University of OregonAdam C. Miller - University of Oregon
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in neuroanatomy, Vol.14, p.12
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnana.2020.00012
- PMID
- 32372919
- PMCID
- PMC7179694
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Neuroanat
- ISSN
- 1662-5129
- eISSN
- 1662-5129
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Grant note
- T32HD007348 / Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R01NS105758 / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke R24OD026591 / NIH Office of the Director
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/15/2020
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9984937941502771
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