PSD (post-synaptic density)

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- PSD (post-synaptic density) -

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Observations:

The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a cytoskeleton specialization at neuronal synapses that was originally identified as an electron-dense region at the membrane of a postsynaptic neuron, as viewed by electron microscopy. PSDs are usually composed of L-glutamate neurotransmitter receptors, their molecular scaffolding molecules, cell adhesion molecules and a diverse set of other signaling proteins. PSDs vary in size and composition among brain regions. Many of the PSD proteins contain PDZ domains...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postsynaptic_density

Scientists find gene clue to 130 brain diseases
Dec 19, 2010

"We found over 130 brain diseases involve the PSD -- far more than expected," said Grant. "The human PSD is at centre stage of a large range of human diseases affecting millions of people."... It also shows that the synapses in rodents are more similar to humans than previously thought, suggesting that mice and rats are good models for examining human brain disease, he said...
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.e3e5f80d414a6156c689824808235ca9.261&show_article=1

Hope for millions as brain study unlocks secrets of Alzheimer's
By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Monday, 20 December 2010
... "Our findings have shown that the human post-synaptic density is at centre stage of a large range of human diseases affecting many millions of people," Professor Grant said. "We found over 130 brain diseases involved the post-synaptic density – far more than expected...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/hope-for-millions-as-brain-study-unlocks-secrets-of-alzheimers-2164844.html

Genetic Basis of Brain Diseases: Set of Proteins Account for Over 130 Brain Diseases

ScienceDaily (Dec. 20, 2010) — Scientists have isolated a set of proteins that accounts for over 130 brain diseases, including diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsies and forms of autism and learning disability...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101219140817.htm

Journal Reference:

1. Àlex Bayés, Louie N van de Lagemaat, Mark O Collins, Mike D R Croning, Ian R Whittle, Jyoti S Choudhary, Seth G N Grant. Characterisation of the proteome, diseases and evolution of the human postsynaptic density. Nature Neuroscience, December 19, 2010 DOI: 10.1038/nn.2719
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.2719

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