Synapses and the synaptome

Question 1

What is SYNMAP?

Answer 1

Allows investigation of
1) protein composition
2) turnover
3) organisation

Question 2

Define the synaptome

Answer 2

the set of all synapse types and subtypes in the brain

Question 3

Define the synaptome architecture

Answer 3

The spatial organisation of diverse synapses

Question 4

What is the role of the synaptome in genetic diseases?

Answer 4

The hierarchy of protein distribution in synapses is a road map for understanding how genetic diseases work. The synapse types have differential vulnerability to disease, aka different diseases have different synaptome architecture

Question 5

How does age affect the synaptome?

Answer 5

• diversity massively increases following birth
• diversity decreases during old age: can have age vulnerable and age resiliant synapses
• Synaptic protein turnover slows with age: can have short protein lifespan (SPL) and long protein lifespan (LPL)

Question 6

How does experience (ie environment) affect the synaptome?

Answer 6

No evidence that it changes total synapse number, but changes the synaptome architecutre
Impact of experience on different types of synapses is dependent on their rate of protein turnover

Question 7

How does homeostasis affect the synaptome?

Answer 7

Sleep deprivation
- modifies synaptome in cortex and hippocampus
- leads to reduction in excitatory synapse diversity

Question 8

How is the synaptome implicated in memory and learning?

Answer 8

Long protein lifetime (LPL) synapses have a slow turnover rate, and are thought to be implicated in long-term memory
- infantile amnesia: limited synapse diveristy + rapid protein turnover = no long term memory from 0-3 yrs old usually

Short protein lifetime (SPL) synapses have a high turnover rate and are linked to short term memory functions

the neocortex and hippocampus have the LPL synapses in brain-> and also involved in maintenance and storage of memories

Question 9

What is the link between experience, age, and homeostasis (sleep deprivation) in regards to the synaptome?

Answer 9

• They all affect different classes of synapses differently
• They are all involved in protein regulation mechanisms (protein lifetime)
• Age and sleep deprivation DECREASE adaptibility whereas experience INCREASES adaptibility