SynGAP

The PSD-95/SAP90 family of proteins have recently been implicated in the organization of synaptic structure. Here we describe the isolation of a novel ras-GTPase activating protein, GAPSYN, that specifically interacts with the PDZ domains of PSD-95 and SAP102 in vitro and in vivo. GAPSYN is selectively expressed in brain and is highly enriched at excitatory synapses where it is present in a large macromolecular complex with PSD-95 and the NMDA receptor. GAPSYN stimulates the GTPase activity of Ras suggesting that it negatively regulates Ras activity at excitatory synapses. Ras signaling at the postsynaptic membrane may be involved in the modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission by NMDA receptors and neurotrophins. These results indicate that GAPSYN may play an important role in the modulation of synaptic plasticity.
Patent (Set) 6,723,838

Patents:
US 6,723,838

Inventor(s): Huganir, Richard

Type of Offer: Licensing



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