Tuning synapse strength by nanocolumn plasticity

Na Xu; Si-Yu Chen; Ai-Hui Tang

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2024.12.009

Tuning synapse strength by nanocolumn plasticity

Trends Neurosci. 2025 Jan 22:S0166-2236(24)00253-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.12.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Na Xu¹, Si-Yu Chen², Ai-Hui Tang³

Affiliations

¹ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Intelligent Processing, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China; School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China. Electronic address: 2024177@aust.edu.cn.
² Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Intelligent Processing, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China.
³ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Intelligent Processing, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230088, China. Electronic address: tangah@ustc.edu.cn.

PMID: 39848836
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.12.009

Abstract

The precise organization of the complex set of synaptic proteins at the nanometer scale is crucial for synaptic transmission. At the heart of this nanoscale architecture lies the nanocolumn. This aligns presynaptic neurotransmitter release with a high local density of postsynaptic receptor channels, thereby optimizing synaptic strength. Although synapses exhibit diverse protein compositions and nanoscale organizations, the role of structural diversity in the notable differences observed in synaptic physiology remains poorly understood. In this review we examine the current literature on the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of nanocolumns, as well as their role in modulating various aspects of synaptic transmission. We also discuss how the reorganization of nanocolumns contributes to functional dynamics in both synaptic plasticity and pathology.

Keywords: phase separation; subsynaptic domain; super-resolution; synaptic structure; synaptic transmission; transmitter release.

Publication types

Review