The organization and regulation of synaptic connections in the mammalian ne
rvous system entail complicated and coordinated molecular and cellular proc
esses. The unveiling of various protein-protein interactions and their func
tional consequences at synapses have led to a greater understanding of the
process of synapse formation and the modulation of synaptic transmission. R
ecent studies indicate that the major excitatory neurotransmitter receptors
in the brain, the glutamate receptors, are associated with many different
molecules that are involved in the formation of elaborate synaptic cytoskel
etal networks and signal transduction cascades. These complex protein netwo
rks may play critical roles in the regulation of neurotransmitter receptor
function and the efficacy of synaptic transmission.