ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Synapse Dynamics: From Molecular Mechanisms to Functional Plasticity

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 690

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
Interests: molecular machinery that controls the release of neuronal transmitters and from nerve terminals; structural synaptic plasticity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue we will focus on all the aspects of the dynamics of synaptic connections, from single molecules to cellular components and to neuronal networks. Synapses are highly dynamic and plastic, and the dynamic processes that control the synaptic communication at the molecular, cellular, and network levels are crucial for the neuronal and cognitive functions.

This Special Issue aims to create the forum for scientists across multiple disciplines, including experimental and comutational approaches, and to integrate the knowledge from various subfields,  thus promoting our understanding of the dynamics of the synaptic communication in health and disease. We ecourage the scientists from all the disciplines to contribute their original studies, reviews, and comments.

The areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the dynamics and trafficking of single molecules and molecular complexes, structural and functional modifiations of sub-cellular components, formation, development and plasticity of synaptic connections, as well as structural and functional modifications of synapses within neuronal networks. We aim to integrate the knowledge across all the organizational levels and techniques, including , in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. 

Prof. Dr. Maria Bykhovskaia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • synaptic plasticiy
  • neuronal transmitters
  • molecular dynamics
  • neuronal networks
  • dendritic spines
  • synapse formation
  • synaptic vesicles
  • active zones
  • axonal transport

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

32 pages, 10673 KiB  
Article
Light-Modulated Circadian Synaptic Plasticity in the Somatosensory Cortex: Link to Locomotor Activity
by Małgorzata Jasińska, Ewa Jasek-Gajda, Marek Ziaja, Jan A. Litwin, Grzegorz J. Lis and Elżbieta Pyza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12870; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312870 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 272
Abstract
The circadian clock controls various physiological processes, including synaptic function and neuronal activity, affecting the functioning of the entire organism. Light is an important external factor regulating the day–night cycle. This study examined the effects of the circadian clock and light on synaptic [...] Read more.
The circadian clock controls various physiological processes, including synaptic function and neuronal activity, affecting the functioning of the entire organism. Light is an important external factor regulating the day–night cycle. This study examined the effects of the circadian clock and light on synaptic plasticity, and explored how locomotor activity contributes to these processes. We analyzed synaptic protein expression and excitatory synapse density in the somatosensory cortex of mice from four groups exposed to different lighting conditions (LD 12:12, DD, LD 16:8, and LL). Locomotor activity was assessed through individual wheel-running monitoring. To explore daily and circadian changes in synaptic proteins, we performed double-immunofluorescence labeling and laser scanning confocal microscopy imaging, targeting three pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins (Synaptophysin 1/PSD95, Piccolo/Homer 1, Neurexins/PICK1). Excitatory synapse density was evaluated by co-labeling presynaptic and postsynaptic markers. Our results demonstrated that all the analyzed synaptic proteins exhibited circadian regulation modulated by light. Under constant light conditions, only Piccolo and Homer 1 showed rhythmicity. Locomotor activity was also associated with the circadian clock’s effects on synaptic proteins, showing a stronger connection to changes in postsynaptic protein levels. Excitatory synapse density peaked during the day/subjective day and exhibited an inverse relationship with locomotor activity. Continued light exposure disrupted cyclic changes in synapse density but kept it consistently elevated. These findings underscore the crucial roles of light and locomotor activity in regulating synaptic plasticity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synapse Dynamics: From Molecular Mechanisms to Functional Plasticity)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop