SYNAPTOPHYSIN Meaning and
Definition
-
Synaptophysin is a protein found in neurons that plays a crucial role in synaptic vesicle trafficking and release. It is primarily located in the presynaptic vesicles of nerve terminals in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Functionally, synaptophysin is involved in exocytosis and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles, which are responsible for the release and recycling of neurotransmitters during neuronal communication. It regulates the fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, facilitating the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
Synaptophysin is also implicated in synaptogenesis, the process by which new synapses are formed between neurons. It is thought to participate in the assembly of presynaptic membranes during synapse development, ensuring efficient communication and signal transmission between neurons.
This protein is widely used as an immunohistochemical marker for identifying and studying neuronal synapses in both healthy and diseased tissues. Its expression levels are particularly useful in diagnosing and understanding neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as alterations in synaptophysin levels often correlate with synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss.
In summary, synaptophysin is a vital protein involved in synaptic vesicle trafficking, neurotransmitter release, synaptogenesis, and is commonly used as a marker for studying synaptic dysfunction in various neurological conditions.
Common Misspellings for SYNAPTOPHYSIN
- aynaptophysin
- zynaptophysin
- xynaptophysin
- dynaptophysin
- eynaptophysin
- wynaptophysin
- stnaptophysin
- sgnaptophysin
- shnaptophysin
- sunaptophysin
- s7naptophysin
- s6naptophysin
- sybaptophysin
- symaptophysin
- syjaptophysin
- syhaptophysin
- synzptophysin
- synsptophysin
- synwptophysin
- synqptophysin
Etymology of SYNAPTOPHYSIN
The word "Synaptophysin" is a scientific term in the field of neurobiology and relates to the protein found in synaptic vesicles of neurons, specifically in presynaptic terminals. The etymology of the term is as follows:
1. Synapse: The word "synapse" comes from the Greek word "synapsis", which means "a joining together" or "a fastening". It was coined by the British physiological psychologist Charles Sherrington in 1897 to describe the junction between two nerve cells where they communicate.
2. Physin: The suffix "-physin" is derived from the Greek word "physis", meaning "nature" or "natural state". It is commonly used in biology to denote proteins or substances that are specific to a particular organelle, tissue, or biological process.
