BackgroundInformation | Silentsynapses,orexcitatorysynapsesthatlackfunctional-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionicacidreceptors(AMPARs),arethoughttobecriticalforregulationofneuronalcircuitsandsynapticplasticity.SynGAP,anexcitatorysynapse-specificRasGAP,regulatesAMPARtrafficking,silentsynapsenumber,andexcitatorysynaptictransmissioninhippocampalandcorticalculturedneurons.OverexpressionofSynGAPinneuronsresultsinaremarkabledepressionofAMPAR-mediatedminiatureexcitatorypostsynapticcurrents,asignificantreductioninsynapticAMPARsurfaceexpression,andadecreaseintheinsertionofAMPARsintotheplasmamembrane.SynaptictransmissionisincreasedinneuronsfromSynGAPknockoutmiceaswellasinneuronalculturestreatedwithSynGAPsmallinterferingRNA. |