0:00
Hello,
I'm Stuart Cull-Candy
from University College London.
And I'm going to be considering
some of the cellular and molecular
aspects of synaptic AMPA-type
glutamate receptor that allow them
to mediate false synaptic
transmission in the brain.
So I'll be considering how
the functional properties
of these receptors shape
the transmission process.
0:22
And I'm going to be
covering five main topics
indicated in this slide.
I'll start by describing broadly,
how AMPA-receptors mediate
the fast component of excitatory
transmission in the brain.
Secondly, I'll address the question
of how many functionally distinct
types of AMPA-receptors are
involved in transmission
and the functional
importance of their topology.
Third, I'll consider how
AMPA-receptor diversity shapes
synaptic transmission and the
implications of their differential
distribution and plasticity.
Fourth, I'll ask how
AMPA-receptor structure
affects its behavior and properties.
And fifth, I'll ask what role do
auxiliary AMPA-receptor proteins,
such as stargazin,
play in controlling
AMPA-receptor properties
and diversity.
1:12
So let's start by asking, how
do AMPA-receptors mediate
fast synaptic
transmission in the brain?
Well, as you know, in the
brain, neighboring neurons
are in very close proximity,
but they're not usually
in close enough physical
contact for the nerve impulse
to jump across the intervening
gap between the cells.
So to achieve this,
a majority of neurons
use a chemical transmitter that's
released from the presynaptic cell.
