Zeitschrift für Informatik und Systembiologie

The Protein-Protein Interaction Networks of Dendritic Spines in the Early Phase of Long-Term Potentiation

Abstract

Anna L Proskura, Aleksander S Ratushnyak and Tatyana A Zapara

The neuron is a basic element of brain networks. Changes of nerve cell excitability, the conduction of excitation, synaptic memory-forming in the case of the temporal coincidence of synaptic events are the obvious functions of the neuron - element of brain networks. The implementation of the neuron function depends on actions of its numerous molecular systems. The generalization of the complex processes of emergence of synaptic memory, that occur even in separate neuronal compartments, without special tools is a difficult, if at all possible, task. A technology that combines the creation of databases (elements and their relationships) with a visual representation in the form of networks facilitates this process. The developed protein-protein interaction network in dendritic spines of hippocampal pyramidal neurons facilitates the synthesis of numerous experimental data in conceptual knowledge about the principles and molecular mechanisms of neurons functioning.