New Concepts in Synaptic Biology Derived from Single-Molecule Imaging
Open accessAbstract
Single-molecule approaches give access to the full distribution of molecule behaviors and overcome the averaging intrinsic to bulk measurement methods. They allow access to complex processes where a given molecule can have heterogeneous properties over time. Recent developments in single-molecule imaging technologies have been followed by their wide application in cellular biology and are leading to the unraveling of new mechanisms related to molecular movements. They are shaping new concepts in the dynamic equilibria of complex biological macromolecular assemblies such as synapses. These advances were made possible thanks to improvements in visualization approaches combined with new strategies to label proteins with nanoprobes. In this primer, we will review the different approaches used to track single molecules in live neurons, compare them to bulk measurements, and discuss the different concepts that have emerged from their application to synaptic biology.
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The surface mobility of neurotransmitter receptors is dynamically regulated to control synaptic activity and is a key component underlying plasticity at nerve terminals.
“The surface mobility of neurotransmitter receptors is dynamically regulated to control synaptic activity and is emerging as another key component underlying plasticity at nerve terminals.40,53,54”
From The autism and schizophrenia associated gene CYFIP1 is critical for the maintenance of dendritic complexity and the stabilization of mature spines (2014) · cites this paper as [53]
The passages under “Concepts that Have Emerged from Single-Molecule Imaging in Synaptic Biology” report that receptor movements are modulated by neuronal activity. The passage on fast synaptic transmission says AMPA-receptor lateral diffusion affects synaptic signaling and recovery from postsynaptic depression. These support a role in synaptic activity and plasticity, but they concern postsynaptic receptors, not plasticity specifically at nerve terminals. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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- Authors
- Triller, A., & Choquet, D.
- Affiliations
- Inserm (FR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Triller, Antoine
- Choquet, Daniel
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-08
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 359-374
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2021845085
- Cited by
- 262
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 2.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
- Keywords
- single-molecule imaging, single-molecule tracking, live neurons, nanoprobes, protein labeling, molecular heterogeneity, synaptic dynamics, macromolecular complexes
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Diagnostic Imaging, Models, Biological, Neurons, Synapses, Nanotechnology
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