Synaptic Toponome

Definition

The term “toponome” describes one of the functional levels of the cell, such as genome, transcriptome, and proteome, and can be quantitatively described and deciphered by means of the TIS technology. It encompasses the topology of all proteins, protein complexes, and protein networks in a subcellular structure (Schubert et al. 2006). The synaptic toponome is defined as the entirety of protein networks of the synapse, in which proteins and protein clusters physically interact to form complexes and structures with a given spatial localization and function (Fig. 1) (Bode et al. 2008).

Synaptic Toponome, Fig. 1

Exemplified synaptic toponome in the central nervous system. (a) 3D imaging of the toponome of a single neuron inside rat spinal cord: colocalization map of seven surface-rendered signals of postsynaptic proteins on the surface of a nerve cell body (red, yellow, and bluecolors). Note that these colors highlight regions in which these seven proteins are differentially...