Synaptoneurolipidomics!
Synaptic transmission is mediated by specialized junctions that are characterized by a complex lipid and protein composition.
The protein composition of synapses is diverse, and it remains unclear whether the molecular diversity of lipids impacts circuit-specific differences in neurotransmission as well as differential predisposition to synaptic dysfunction in disease.
Recent work has shown that rather subtle changes in lipid content can influence synaptic function, but those that depend on molecular interactions between lipids and proteins remain unknown as technical limitations have precluded lipidomic studies at the level of individual synapses.
Novel technologies, including mass spectrometry imaging and chemical tagging, now exist to study lipid function with the necessary molecular and spatial detail to resolve the lipidome of single synaptic junctions.
https://www.cell.com/trends/biochemical-sciences/fulltext/S0968-0004(24)00276-7
