Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology.pdf

Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology

Neural Signaling Mechanisms

Abel Lajtha (Ed.)

Handbook of

Neurochemistry and

Molecular Neurobiology

Neural Signaling Mechanisms

Volume Editor: Katsuhiko Mikoshiba

With 130 Figures and 14 Tables

Editor

Abel Lajtha

Director

Center for Neurochemistry

Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research

140 Old Orangeburg Road

Orangeburg

New York, 10962

USA

Developmental Disorder Research Group

RIKEN Brain Science Institute

‐

1 Hirosawa Wako

‐

shi

Saitama 351

‐

0198

Japan

mikosiba@brain.riken.jp

Library of Congress Control Number: 2006922553

ISBN: 978 ‐ 0 ‐ 387 ‐ 30338 ‐ 3

Additionally, the whole set will be available upon completion under ISBN: 978 ‐ 0 ‐ 387 ‐ 35443 ‐ 9

The electronic version of the whole set will be available under ISBN: 978 ‐ 0 ‐ 387 ‐ 30426 ‐ 7

The print and electronic bundle of the whole set will be available under ISBN: 978 ‐ 0 ‐ 387 ‐ 35478 ‐ 1

2009 Springer Science þ Business Media, LLC.

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SPIN: 11415084 2109 – 543210

Volume Editor

Katsuhiko Mikoshiba

Group Director of Neuro

Preface

The brain is an organ with a complex structure and is composed of various types of cells. It is mainly

composed of neurons and glia cells, and a higher brain function results from the formation of complex

neuronal networks. What is the best way to understand the brain? One way is by understanding how

molecular and cellular mechanisms are formed. Among them, it is important to know the molecular

mechanisms by which neuronal networks are developed, a process initiated during early cell-cell interac-

tions. In addition, it is essential to understand the mechanism of signal transduction inside the cells during

network formation at various developmental stages and also in the mature brain. The functions of the brain

are multiple and complex – it is a centrally regulating organizing system of multiple simultaneous

functions. As we begin to understand it, we recognize the speciﬁc functions and speciﬁc role individual

cells have to perform, and the interactions of the cells that are needed for such functions. The understanding

of these cell to cell interactions, which involve intracellular changes, is essential for understanding the

multiple role of the brain, and also for understanding any change responsible for malfunction of this organ.

This volume of the Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology is a collection of

chapters that describe the ‘‘Neural Signaling Mechanism’’ of the brain. The ﬁrst chapters brieﬂy cover the

molecular mechanisms occurring during the development of the nervous system: genesis, migration and

differentiation of neurons and neuronal positioning, cell fate determination involved in the regulation of

axonal formation, and neural process formation. Subsequently, the signaling mechanism in synaptic

transmission is described; a key process of neural function is the way neurons inﬂuence one another

through synaptic contacts.

There are many regulatory and signaling mechanisms inside the cells. Phosphorylation is one important

mechanism that has already been studied successfully for some time, but recently the importance of

phospholipid signaling has also been noted. This volume includes discussions of recent studies in phos-

pholipid signaling and its role in cell function: metabolism, function, and delivery of inositol polypho-

sphates, and their role as regulators of nuclear function.

Various receptors located on synaptic plasma membranes are important places to communicate

information from outside the plasma membrane to the cells inside. Recently it was found that a receptor

dynamically moves inside the cell and moves to the plasma membrane; the density of the receptor at

synapses is closely modulated. How receptors are targeted, and how their structure and sorting, insertion,

clustering, and internalization may be regulated, indicate important regulatory mechanisms involved in

receptor signaling and function. These interactions are discussed in this volume.

The importance of Ca 2+ ions is established and it is widely known that Ca 2+ can act as a global

messenger inside and outside cells, to alter a variety of intracellular functions. Many molecules involving

receptors and channels are reported to be associated with Ca 2+ signaling. These molecular mechanisms are

closely correlated with morphological changes and functions, and cell fate changes in the brain, which are

also well described in this volume.

Life system studies have advanced in a rapidly expanding fashion, yielding exciting and important

information and pointing out the need for further studies. We know that each cell in each organ has unique

function(s), although their basic cellular mechanisms may be common. Therefore, it is important to know

how unique the signaling mechanism in the brain is, in addition to the common basic mechanisms,

compared with other organs. There exist multiple speciﬁc cerebral mechanisms. This volume covers

relatively wide perspectives of these topics; therefore, it will help the readers to put together the descriptions

it contains, and to integrate them as a means to understand the system(s) of the brain as a whole.

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