Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40145863›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of cell biology2025

The postsynaptic density in excitatory synapses is composed of clustered, heterogeneous nanoblocks.

Rong Sun, James P Allen, Zhuqing Mao, Liana Wilson, Mariam Haider, Baris Alten, Zimeng Zhou, Xinyi Wang, Qiangjun Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of cell biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Transsynaptic linking of calcium channels and postsynaptic receptors at a dyadic synapse.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Molecular Physiology of the Neuronal Synapse.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rong SunDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0950-1480
James P AllenVanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University , Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2124-6881
Zhuqing MaoDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0778-8959
Liana WilsonDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0009-0006-2369-6321
Mariam HaiderDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-3827-6121
Baris AltenDepartment of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1842-7099
Zimeng ZhouDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-7222-3695
Xinyi WangDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0009-0007-5762-9394
Qiangjun ZhouDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1789-9588

Funding

Overall: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at VanderbiltP50HD103537 · NICHD · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Jeffrey L Neul · 2020 to 2026
$10.3M
Thermo Scientific Glacios cryo-TEMS10OD030292 · OD · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · PI NAKAGAWA, TERUNAGA · 2021 to 2021
$2.0M
Synaptic nanostructure and dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disordersR01MH132918 · NIMH · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · PI Qiangjun Zhou · 2024 to 2026
$1.8M
Molecular Mechanism and Regulation of Asynchronous ReleaseR00MH113764 · NIMH · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · PI ZHOU, QIANGJUN · 2020 to 2022
$719k
NICHD NIH HHS P50 HD103537NIH HHS R00 MH113764NIH HHS S10 OD030292NIMH NIH HHS R00 MH113764NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH132918Vanderbilt Brain Institue "Neurodegenerative" TIPS Initiative AwardVanderbilt University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The nanoscale organization of proteins within synapses is critical for maintaining and regulating synaptic transmission and plasticity. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to directly visualize the three-dimensional architecture and supramolecular organization of postsynaptic components in both synaptosomes and synapses from cultured neurons. Cryo-ET revealed that postsynaptic density (PSD) is composed of membrane-associated nanoblocks of various sizes. Subtomogram averaging from synaptosomes showed two types (type A and B) of postsynaptic receptor-like particles at resolutions of 24 and 26 Å, respectively. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that potential presynaptic release sites are closer to nanoblocks with type A/B receptor-like particles than to nanoblocks without type A/B receptor-like particles. The results of this study provide a more comprehensive understanding of synaptic ultrastructure and suggest that PSD is composed of clustering of various nanoblocks. These nanoblocks are heterogeneous in size, assembly, and distribution, which likely contribute to the dynamic nature of PSD in modulating synaptic strength.

Indexed as

NeuronsPost-Synaptic DensitySynapsesAnimalsCells, CulturedCryoelectron MicroscopyElectron Microscope TomographyRatsSynaptic TransmissionSynaptosomes

Identifiers

PMID40145863
PMCPMC11948668

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.