Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane
Abstract In the synaptic junction, pre-and post compartments are anchored to each other through trans-synaptic bridges spanning the synaptic cleft. Here we demonstrate that mild mechanical disturbance through sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft, and releases PSDs adjoined to the postsynaptic m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Molecular Brain |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01217-7 |
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| author | Ayse Dosemeci Jung-Hwa Tao-Cheng |
| author_facet | Ayse Dosemeci Jung-Hwa Tao-Cheng |
| author_sort | Ayse Dosemeci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In the synaptic junction, pre-and post compartments are anchored to each other through trans-synaptic bridges spanning the synaptic cleft. Here we demonstrate that mild mechanical disturbance through sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft, and releases PSDs adjoined to the postsynaptic membrane, but devoid of presynaptic elements. It is the first time, to our knowledge, that dissection of the synaptic cleft has been achieved without the use of chemical/enzymatic treatments. This observation suggests that some of the protein-protein interactions involved in the anchoring of pre- and postsynaptic compartments are relatively weak non-covalent associations. We describe a method for the further fractionation of PSDs with the associated postsynaptic membrane. This PSD preparation provides a valuable tool for studies of postsynaptic membrane components, such as glutamatergic receptors, in an environment closer to their native state. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed9141d1a0cc421e9494e5c81fd5c9e6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1756-6606 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Brain |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed9141d1a0cc421e9494e5c81fd5c9e62025-08-20T03:16:42ZengBMCMolecular Brain1756-66062025-05-011811710.1186/s13041-025-01217-7Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membraneAyse Dosemeci0Jung-Hwa Tao-Cheng1Structural Cell Biology Section, National Institutes of HealthNINDS Electron Microscopy Facility National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of HealthAbstract In the synaptic junction, pre-and post compartments are anchored to each other through trans-synaptic bridges spanning the synaptic cleft. Here we demonstrate that mild mechanical disturbance through sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft, and releases PSDs adjoined to the postsynaptic membrane, but devoid of presynaptic elements. It is the first time, to our knowledge, that dissection of the synaptic cleft has been achieved without the use of chemical/enzymatic treatments. This observation suggests that some of the protein-protein interactions involved in the anchoring of pre- and postsynaptic compartments are relatively weak non-covalent associations. We describe a method for the further fractionation of PSDs with the associated postsynaptic membrane. This PSD preparation provides a valuable tool for studies of postsynaptic membrane components, such as glutamatergic receptors, in an environment closer to their native state.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01217-7PSDElectron microscopyEMSynaptic junctionSynaptosome |
| spellingShingle | Ayse Dosemeci Jung-Hwa Tao-Cheng Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane Molecular Brain PSD Electron microscopy EM Synaptic junction Synaptosome |
| title | Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| title_full | Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| title_fullStr | Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| title_short | Sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| title_sort | sonication dissociates the synaptic cleft and allows purification of postsynaptic densities with associated postsynaptic membrane |
| topic | PSD Electron microscopy EM Synaptic junction Synaptosome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01217-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aysedosemeci sonicationdissociatesthesynapticcleftandallowspurificationofpostsynapticdensitieswithassociatedpostsynapticmembrane AT junghwataocheng sonicationdissociatesthesynapticcleftandallowspurificationofpostsynapticdensitieswithassociatedpostsynapticmembrane |