Activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) in presynaptic terminals and extracellular vesicles in hippocampal synapses.

The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) is a neuron-specific immediate early gene (IEG) product. The protein regulates synaptic strength through modulation of spine density and morphology, AMPA receptor endocytosis, and as being part of a retrovirus-like inter-cellular communication mechanism.

Antibodies raised against aldehyde-fixed antigens improve sensitivity for postembedding electron microscopy.

Background: Antibodies are one of the most important tools in biological research. High specificity and sensitivity of antibodies are crucial to obtain reliable results. Tissue fixed with glutaraldehyde (GA) is commonly used in electron microscopical investigations.

Correction to: A possible postsynaptic role for SNAP-25 in hippocampal synapses.

In the original publication of the article the author name M. Schupps was incorrect.

Presynaptic increase in IP receptor type 1 concentration in the early phase of hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IPR) subtype IPR1 is highly enriched in the brain, including hippocampal neurons. It plays an important function in regulating intracellular calcium concentrations. Residing on the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER), the IPR1 mobilizes calcium into the cytosol upon binding the intracellular signaling molecule IP, whose concentration is increased by stimulating certain metabotropic glutamate receptors.

A possible postsynaptic role for SNAP-25 in hippocampal synapses.

The SNARE protein SNAP-25 is well documented as regulator of presynaptic vesicle exocytosis. Increasing evidence suggests roles for SNARE proteins in postsynaptic trafficking of glutamate receptors as a basic mechanism in synaptic plasticity. Despite these indications, detailed quantitative subsynaptic localization studies of SNAP-25 have never been performed.