Synapses represent a unique neuronal compartment specialized in communication. The morpho-functional investigation of the synapse has always been hindered by its tiny size and high density of molecular elements, but specific technological and methodological advances helped us to reduce these limitations. As the matter of fact, in recent years, we have witnessed the continuous development of new methods allowing measuring and controlling synaptic activation both in vitro and in vivo. These include new genetically encoded sensors of synaptic exo-endocytosis, but also engineered synaptic proteins able to inhibit the release of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, new promising tools allow changing the functional properties of synapses in a plasticity-like manner.
All these methodological advances are likely to generate unprecedented knowledge about the dynamics of synaptic transmission and plasticity at several levels of the nervous system. Nevertheless, in most cases, the implementation of these new methods remains technically demanding, likely due to the high complexity of their operating principle. Hence, it would be worth refining and potentiating these tools in order to extend the range of experimental settings for their application.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect studies that validate, refine or apply in an effective way recently developed tools and approaches, with the aim to investigate synaptic communication. In addition, review papers will be welcome if providing an updated and original view of the panorama of available methods and their recent application. The contents of this Research Topic can include:
· Papers that validate, refine or test novel or recently developed sensors, or analysis approaches, that can report any information about the morphological and functional properties of synapses.
· Papers that validate, refine or test novel or recently developed actuators that can support the transient or durable modification of the morphological and functional properties of synapses.
· Papers that evaluate the applicability of those methods to new experimental setups or to answer previously unaddressed questions.
· Reviews or perspectives that provide an original and exhaustive analysis of the methods described above.
Synapses represent a unique neuronal compartment specialized in communication. The morpho-functional investigation of the synapse has always been hindered by its tiny size and high density of molecular elements, but specific technological and methodological advances helped us to reduce these limitations. As the matter of fact, in recent years, we have witnessed the continuous development of new methods allowing measuring and controlling synaptic activation both in vitro and in vivo. These include new genetically encoded sensors of synaptic exo-endocytosis, but also engineered synaptic proteins able to inhibit the release of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, new promising tools allow changing the functional properties of synapses in a plasticity-like manner.
All these methodological advances are likely to generate unprecedented knowledge about the dynamics of synaptic transmission and plasticity at several levels of the nervous system. Nevertheless, in most cases, the implementation of these new methods remains technically demanding, likely due to the high complexity of their operating principle. Hence, it would be worth refining and potentiating these tools in order to extend the range of experimental settings for their application.
The goal of this Research Topic is to collect studies that validate, refine or apply in an effective way recently developed tools and approaches, with the aim to investigate synaptic communication. In addition, review papers will be welcome if providing an updated and original view of the panorama of available methods and their recent application. The contents of this Research Topic can include:
· Papers that validate, refine or test novel or recently developed sensors, or analysis approaches, that can report any information about the morphological and functional properties of synapses.
· Papers that validate, refine or test novel or recently developed actuators that can support the transient or durable modification of the morphological and functional properties of synapses.
· Papers that evaluate the applicability of those methods to new experimental setups or to answer previously unaddressed questions.
· Reviews or perspectives that provide an original and exhaustive analysis of the methods described above.
