Unconventional NMDA Receptor Signalling in Neocortical Plasticity
ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ's Seminar Series in Quantitative Life Sciences and Medicine
Sponsored by CAMBAM, QLS, MiCM and the Ludmer Centre
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Title:ÌýUnconventional NMDA Receptor Signalling in Neocortical Plasticity
Speaker:ÌýJesper Sjostrom, ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ
When:ÌýTuesday, January 28, 12-1pmÌý
Where:ÌýMontreal Neurological Institute,ÌýdeGrandpre Communications Centre
Abstract: In the classical view, postsynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) trigger Hebbian plasticity via calcium influx. However, unconventional presynaptic NMDARs (preNMDARs) which regulate both long-term and short-term plasticity at several synapse types have also been found. A lack of sufficiently specific experimental manipulations and a poor understanding of how preNMDARs signal have contributed to long-standing controversy surrounding these receptors. Our recent work indicates that, whereas ionotropic preNMDARs signaling controls evoked release, spontaneous release is regulated by metabotropic NMDAR signaling. Elucidating unconventional NMDAR signaling modes — both presynaptically and metabotropically — is in other words key to a full understanding of NMDAR function in health as well as disease.