dendritic spine head
Definition
Target type: cellularcomponent
Distal part of the dendritic spine, that carries the post-synaptic density. [GOC:BHF, GOC:nln, GOC:rl]
The dendritic spine head is a small, bulbous protrusion that extends from the dendrite of a neuron. It is the site of synaptic contact with other neurons, and plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity. The spine head contains a variety of cellular components, including:
* **Postsynaptic density (PSD):** A dense protein scaffold that is located on the postsynaptic membrane of the spine head. The PSD contains a large number of proteins that are involved in signal transduction, including receptors for neurotransmitters, kinases, phosphatases, and scaffolding proteins. The PSD serves to anchor the receptors and signaling molecules at the synapse, and to regulate the strength of synaptic transmission.
* **Actin cytoskeleton:** A network of actin filaments that provides structural support to the spine head. The actin cytoskeleton is highly dynamic, and can rapidly change in response to synaptic activity. These changes in actin dynamics are important for the regulation of spine morphology and synaptic plasticity.
* **Mitochondria:** The powerhouses of the cell, mitochondria are responsible for producing ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Mitochondria are abundant in spine heads, and are thought to play a role in supporting the high energy demands of synaptic transmission.
* **Endoplasmic reticulum (ER):** A network of membranes that extends throughout the cell. The ER is involved in protein synthesis, folding, and trafficking. The ER in spine heads is thought to play a role in the regulation of calcium signaling, and in the delivery of synaptic vesicles to the presynaptic terminal.
* **Synaptic vesicles:** Small membrane-bound sacs that contain neurotransmitters. Synaptic vesicles are clustered at the presynaptic terminal, and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft in response to an action potential.
* **Other proteins:** In addition to these major components, the spine head contains a variety of other proteins that are involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including signal transduction, protein trafficking, and gene expression.'
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Proteins (1)
| Protein | Definition | Taxonomy |
|---|---|---|
| G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 | A G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 that is encoded in the genome of human. [PRO:WCB, UniProtKB:Q99527] | Homo sapiens (human) |
Compounds (1)
| Compound | Definition | Classes | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-(4-(6-bromobenzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl)-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-3h-cyclopenta(c)quinolin-8-yl)ethanone | 1-(4-(6-bromobenzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl)-3a,4,5,9b-tetrahydro-3H-cyclopenta(c)quinolin-8-yl)ethanone: G-1 was able to induce both c-fos expression and proliferation in the ERalpha-negative/GPR30-positive SKBR3 breast cancer cells, the requirement for ERalpha expression in GPR30/EGFR signaling may depend on the specific cellular context of different tumor types | agonist |