The Torpedo electrocyte: A model system to study membrane-cytoskeleton interactions at the postsynaptic membrane

Many aspects of the organization of the electromotor synapse of electric fi sh resemble the nerve-muscle junction. In particular, the postsynaptic memb rane in both systems share most of their proteins. As a remarquable source of cholinergic synapses, the Torpedo electrocyte model has served to identi fy the most important components involved in synaptic transmission such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, a s well as proteins associated with the subsynaptic cytoskeleton and the ext racellular matrix involved in the assembly of the postsynaptic membrane, na mely the 43-kDa protein-rapsyn, the dystrophin/utrophin complex, agrin, and others. This review encompasses some representative experiments that helpe d to clarify essential aspects of the supramolecular organization and assem bly of the postsynaptic apparatus of cholinergic synapses. Microsc. Res. Te ch. 49:73-83, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.