Intercellular signaling through soluble ectodomains at neuronal synapses: from basic biology to biomarkers and treatments

Peter Penzes, PhD
Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Director
Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment
Chicago IL, USA
 

This conference is hosted by Hideto Takahshi, MD, PhD. Cette conférence s’inscrit dans le calendrier 2025-2026 des conférences IRCM.

About the conference
Ectodomain shedding (ES) is a post-translational protein modification process that plays key roles in health and disease. Many neuronal and synaptic membrane proteins are known to undergo ES, but the complexity of functions regulated by the shed peptides is only beginning to be unraveled.

Here, we provide an overview of emerging evidence demonstrating that synaptic ES can mediate autocrine and paracrine signaling. We also discuss how advances in large-scale proteomic analyses are leading to the identification of novel synaptic proteins undergoing ES, as well as the targets and functions of their soluble ectodomains. Finally, we provide an overview of how cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses of shed proteins could be used as a potential source of new biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disorders.

About the speaker
Peter Penzes, PhD is the Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also Director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment. His research focuses on synaptic biology and how disruptions in synaptic function contribute to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia.

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