Liquid Phase Transition in the Postsynaptic Density?

Abstract

An assembly of scaffold proteins termed the postsynaptic density (PSD) is attached to the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory glutamatergic synapses [1]. The scaffold serves to immobilize glutamate receptors in the membrane directly across from the position where glutamate is released from the presynaptic terminal. It also houses and organizes biochemical machinery whose job is to respond to particular patterns of electrical activity by increasing the strength of the synapse [2]. Synaptic strengthening helps to form new circuits that represent our experience [3]. These circuits are our memories. Biochemical machinery in the PSD strengthens the synapse by increasing the size of the PSD scaffold, the number of anchored receptors, and the size of the presynaptic active zone. A larger scaffold, more release sites, and more receptors means a stronger synapse, and vice versa.

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