Characterization of a Model Post-Synaptic Density
There are approximately 100 trillion chemical synapses in the human brain. Synapses mediate communication between electrically active cells. The ionotropic channels in the postsynaptic membrane are primarily responsible for the electrical response of the synapse. These channels operate under the executive control of the post-synaptic density (PSD). The PSD is a membrane associated, protein-rich volume with an approximate diameter of 300nm and depth of 30nm. Our recent work has revealed that the PSD scaffold can be organized along the principles of a crystalline lattice. We aim to recapitulate this scaffold at a membrane surface and subsequently explore the incorporation of various components of the PSD. We propose to use the technique of Neutron Reflectometry to explore this self-assembling condensate. In the long term the use of neutrons will allow isotopic labelling of components and therefore the interrogation of the dense scaffold structure.
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Stephen M. Prince; FRAGNETO Giovanna and M Jayne Lawrence. (2021). Characterization of a Model Post-Synaptic Density. Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) doi:10.5291/ILL-DATA.8-02-936
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