Review Article

Molecular Mechanoneurobiology: An Emerging Angle to Explore Neural Synaptic Functions

Figure 1

Schematic of a neural synapse with key molecules under external and/or internal mechanical forces. Neural synapses are very tight, dynamic, and well organized by many synaptic adhesions and signaling receptors (e.g., cadherins, integrins, and Eph/Ephrin), ion channels (e.g., NMDAR and L-type VGCC), and their associated cytoskeleton (e.g., actins). These molecules serve as mechanosensors and mechanotransducers. Cytoskeleton serves as a regulatory center that physically links membrane receptors and their associated cytoplasmic molecules (e.g., talin, PSD-95, S-SCAM, and catenin) for mechanotransduction. Mechanical forces, including extracellular forces from axon growth or other neural movements and internal forces from cytoskeletal dynamics and contractions of motor molecules (e.g., myosin), may regulate these proteins’ conformations and functions, which may further determine synaptic formation and plasticity.