RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Assembly of Proteins to Postsynaptic Densities after Transient Cerebral Ischemia
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 625
OP 633
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-02-00625.1998
VO 18
IS 2
A1 Bing-Ren Hu
A1 Minkyu Park
A1 Maryann E. Martone
A1 Wolfgang H. Fischer
A1 Mark H. Ellisman
A1 Justin A. Zivin
YR 1998
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/18/2/625.abstract
AB Transient ischemia leads to changes in synaptic efficacy and results in selective neuronal damage during the postischemic phase, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. The protein composition and ultrastructure of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) were studied by using a rat transient ischemic model. We found that a brief ischemic episode induced a marked accumulation in PSDs of the protein assembly ATPases, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein, and heat–shock cognate protein-70 as well as the BDNF receptor (trkB) and protein kinases, as determined by protein microsequencing. The changes in PSD composition were accompanied by a 2.5-fold increase in the yield of PSD protein relative to controls. Biochemical modification of PSDs correlated well with an increase in PSD thickness observed in vivo by electron microscopy. We conclude that a brief ischemic episode modifies the molecular composition and ultrastructure of synapses by assembly of proteins to the postsynaptic density, which may underlie observed changes in synaptic function and selective neuronal damage.