New light on cortical neuropeptides and synaptic network plasticity. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Stephen J; Hawrylycz, Michael; Rossier, Jean; Sümbül, Uygar
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in neurobiology. Volume 63(2020)
• Page Start: 176
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Neurobiology -- Periodicals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4388

Abstract

Highlights: New findings strengthen evidence for the regulation of cortical synaptic plasticity by local neuropeptide signaling. Transcriptomic data and transcriptomic neurotaxonomies allow prediction of cortical neuropeptidergic network architectures. New tools open transcriptomic predictions of neuropeptidergic network architectures to experimental test. New tools open neuropeptidergic network roles in synaptic network plasticity to experimental and theoretical exploration. Abstract : Neuropeptides, members of a large and evolutionarily ancient family of proteinaceous cell–cell signaling molecules, are widely recognized as extremely potent regulators of brain function and behavior. At the cellular level, neuropeptides are known to act mainly via modulation of ion channel and synapse function, but functional impacts emerging at the level of complex cortical synaptic networks have resisted mechanistic analysis. New findings from single-cell RNA-seq transcriptomics now illuminate intricate patterns of cortical neuropeptide signaling gene expression and new tools now offer powerful molecular access to cortical neuropeptide signaling. Here we highlight some of these new findings and tools, focusing especially on prospects for experimental and theoretical exploration of peptidergic and synaptic networks interactions underlying cortical function and plasticity.