Induction, assembly, maturation and maintenance of a postsynaptic apparatus

The postsynaptic apparatus of the skeletal neuromuscular junction, like that of other synapses, contains a high-density patch of neurotransmitter receptors that is closely associated with a variety of extracellular, transmembrane and cytoplasmic proteins that have adhesive, structural and signalling roles. The postsynaptic apparatus is organized by signals from the presynaptic nerve terminal. It changes in shape, size and molecular architecture as it matures. Once mature, it can be maintained for the life of the organism, but has the capacity for remodelling in response to altered input. The molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern each of these stages are now being elucidated by a combination of microscopic and genetic methods, allowing the neuromuscular junction to serve as a model for smaller and less-accessible central synapses.