Synapse function

Synapse function is a complex physiological process rather than a single molecular target. It represents the communication mechanism between neurons, involving the release of neurotransmitters from the pre-synaptic terminal, their diffusion across the synaptic cleft, and subsequent binding to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane (StatPearls, 2023). This process is fundamental to all nervous system activities, including sensory perception, motor control, and higher-order cognition such as learning and memory (NINDS, 2023). Dysregulation of synaptic function, often referred to as synaptopathy, is a central feature of many neurological disorders, where the loss of synaptic density or impaired plasticity leads to clinical symptoms (Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2014). In drug discovery, 'Synapse function' is too broad to be a specific target; instead, therapeutics are designed to interact with individual components such as ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), or neurotransmitter transporters to modulate the overall efficiency of the synaptic signal (NCBI, 2022). Consequently, while it is the focus of intense therapeutic interest, it serves as a functional category for a multitude of specific molecular targets.

Other names

Synaptic transmissionNeurotransmissionSynaptic signalingSynaptic plasticity

Modulation of neurotransmitter reuptake, agonism or antagonism of post-synaptic receptors, inhibition of neurotransmitter degradation, and regulation of synaptic vesicle release (e.g., SV2A binding).