From Activity- and Experience-Dependent Glutamate Receptor Organization, Function and Trafficking to Synapses and Neural Circuitry in Health and Disease

Neurons communicate at specialized contacts called synapses. This structure is fundamental to our understanding of the brain. The composition, molecular organization, signaling and plasticity of excitatory synapses underlie activity- and experience-dependent changes in brain function relevant to learning and memory. This conference will present the latest findings on excitatory synapse formation, structure, function and plasticity. A striking feature of excitatory synapses is their ability to undergo long-lasting changes in synaptic strength, a compelling cellular model for learning and memory. In addition, dysregulation of excitatory synaptic function underlies schizophrenia, autism, depression, substance abuse and addiction, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke and epilepsy.

Recent advances in molecular and cellular techniques have enabled investigation of synaptic function and plasticity at the level of individual spines and provide insight as to how changes in synaptic strength at individual synapses contribute to neural circuitry and memory and cognition. The advent of opto-genetic and single-cell gene manipulation provide powerful tools to study the molecular underpinnings of excitatory synapses, while enhanced single molecule and high resolution imaging has enabled visualization of the organization and trafficking of brain receptors at nanoscale resolution. A fundamental understanding of formation, molecular organization, signaling, and plasticity of synapses is essential to understanding of how the brain works under physiological conditions and how dysregulation of neural circuitry contribute to human disease.

Specific topics include mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter release, recycling of synaptic vesicles, remodeling of receptor composition and phenotype, receptor trafficking, synaptic plasticity, neural circuitry and behavior. An emphasis will be on a role for epigenetics in experience-dependent fine-tuning of genes involved in synaptic plasticity and structural remodeling. Findings from the presented studies are expected to impact on our understanding of glutamate receptor function as it pertains to memory, synaptic stabilization, brain development and cognitive information flow under physiological and pathological conditions. Poster sessions will be emphasized and will provide ample opportunities for informal and formal discussions. To insure that the latest and most exciting results are presented, several speakers will be selected from the submitted abstracts.