Researchers Unveil Key Process Driving Synapse Maturation in the UK

Scientists from the laboratory headed by Prof. Joris De Wit at VIB-KU Leuven have uncovered a significant insight into the maturation process of synaptic connections between neurons. This groundbreaking research has been documented in Developmental Cell , showed how two distinct proteins, GPR158 and PLCXD2, come together to form a particular part of developing synapses known as the spine apparatus.

The junctions where nerve cells communicate—known as synapses—are not just varied at the molecular level; they also house specific organelles, which act like miniature internal cell machinery to refine their operation. One example of these organelles is the spine apparatus, crucial for maintaining stable adult synapses and aiding in processes related to learning and memory. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which neurons regulate the formation location and timing of this organelle remain unresolved topics.

Currently, the research group has pinpointed a new synaptic protein complex that governs the inclusion of the spine apparatus during the development of synapses. Their investigation shows that a protein named GPR158 binds with an unconventional enzyme, PLCXD2, to manage the levels of the spine apparatus as well as the maturity of dendritic spines — these are the small extensions on nerve cells that capture synaptic signals.

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