Studying the Localization, Surface Stability and Endocytosis of Neurotransmitter Receptors by Antibody Labeling and Biotinylation Approaches

Alterations in the activity of post-synaptic neurotransmitter receptors including α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, kainate receptors and gamma hydroxybutric acid type A (GABA) receptors make an important contribution to modulation of synapse strength, neuronal excitability and the plasticity of synapses. Changes in the strength of neurotransmitter receptor signalling are thought to be achieved, in part, by the modulation of channel gating and conductance or by regulating the number or location of receptors expressed on cell surface and synaptic membranes. Neurotransmitter receptor trafficking is now recognized as a key mechanism for altering the strength of synapses during synaptic plasticity by changing synaptic receptor number [1]. Here, we focus on receptor membrane trafficking and, in particular, receptor endocytosis as a mechanism to regulate the number of surface and synaptic neurotransmitter receptors. We briefly review some general cellular mechanisms that underlie surface membrane protein internalization and then discuss in detail some of the cell biological approaches that have been important for studies of neurotransmitter receptor trafficking.