MAGUKs: multifaceted synaptic organizers

- PSD-95 and PSD-93 are essential for PSD structure.
- SAP102 plays a role in clearing NMDARs from the synapse.
- PSD-95 sculpts protein content at the PSD.
- PSD-93 and PSD-95 have divergent roles in both Hebbian and non-Hebbian plasticity.

The PSD-95 family of proteins, known as MAGUKs, have long been recognized to be central building blocks of the PSD. They are categorized as scaffolding proteins, which link surface-expressed receptors to the intracellular signaling molecules. Although the four members of the PSD-95 family (PSD-95, PSD-93, SAP102, and SAP97) have many shared roles in regulating synaptic function, recent studies have begun to delineate specific binding partners and roles in plasticity. In the current review, we will highlight the conserved and unique roles of these proteins.