4th year doctoral student Kazuya Nozawa's dissertationOnline version of Neuron.。For Press releaseClick here. 2022。
by improving Expansion Microscopy (ExM), a high-resolution microscopy technique、Molecules that determine the individuality of synapses in the brain at the nano level (one millionth of a millimeter is one nanometer)：nm) revealed the structure of。

The neural network that underpins the functioning of the brain、Nerve cells are connected to each other by synapses。Various molecules that connect synapses are、Because it is concentrated in a narrow region of about 100 to 1000 nm in the synapse、Its detailed distribution cannot be observed with the resolution of conventional optical microscopes (approximately 200 nm).。there、Nozawa-kun, together with Hayashi-san、We further improved ExM, a technology that expands the specimen itself to about 1000 times its volume.、By optimizing for synaptic observation、For the first time, we succeeded in clarifying the structure and interrelationships of molecular groups that connect excitatory synapses in mouse neural networks at the nano-level.。According to the comment, 、A group of synaptic molecules that bind to neurexin (neurexin ligand)、It was discovered that they accumulate as units of ``nanodomains'' of several tens of nanometers each within synapses.。further、Depending on the type of neurexin present at the presynaptic site、It has been found that the arrangement of nanodomains of post-synaptic synaptic molecules and glutamate receptors is determined。
From the results of this research、The characteristics of synapses that support brain function、It turns out that each specialized synaptic molecule is created by interacting at the nano level.。These molecular groups have been reported to be associated with many psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders.、It is expected that the results of this research will lead to an understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases and the developmental mechanisms of normal neural circuits.。Taku Sogabe, a fifth-year medical student, also contributed greatly to the development of ExM.。

The 151st BrainClub presenters include:、We invited Dr. Takuya Sasaki from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University (Friday, July 15, 2022).、Face-to-face and web hybrid format)。heavy rain、Welcome to Keio University、He gave a lecture titled "Operating Principles of the Hippocampal Circuit Controlling Learning and Memory".。from the hippocampus and related brain regionsin vivoCan be deciphered from analysis results using multi-unit recording、Changes in neural activity during individual learning and memory、He talked about the research results obtained so far.。Also、Please also make a presentation on a new attempt to expand the recording target beyond the brain with the latest knowledge.、Lively discussions took place。

The photo is a commemorative photo taken after the lecture。Sasaki-sensei is in the center back row。Yuzusaki lab has many electrophysiology members。* There is no deep meaning in blurring the background (automatic adjustment of a certain Google smartphone used for trial)。After all, clean up a little ry (conference)