The ERC-funded Research Group Synaptic Proteostasis investigates how neurons regulate protein turnover to support synaptic function. Synapses, the primary hubs of neuronal communication, are integral to the formation and maintenance of memory. The dynamic, timely regulated changes in protein composition of synaptic contacts ensures both the long-term storage of existing memories and the adaptability required to form new ones. A single neuron can support up to 17,000 synaptic connections, each characterized by distinct activity patterns.
Given the intricate cytoarchitecture of neurons—with dendrites and axons extending hundreds of microns from the cell body, the principal site of protein synthesis and degradation—the question arises: How do neurons efficiently manage the supply and removal of proteins to maintain synaptic function?