Title

Investigation of astrocytic MDGAs function in regulation of synaptic properties

DGIST Authors

Huynh Ngoc Khai ; Jaewon Ko ; Ji Won Um

Advisor

고재원

Co-Advisor(s)

Ji Won Um

Issued Date

2026

Awarded Date

2026-02-01

Type

Thesis

Description

Synapse, Cell-adhesion molecules, MAM domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor (MDGA), Astrocyte

Table Of Contents

Ⅰ. Introduction 1
1.1 Synapses are the sites of communication in the nervous system 1
1.2 Cell adhesion molecules dictate synapse formation and shape synaptic properties. 1
1.3 MDGA family protein regulates excitatory and inhibitory synapses 2
1.3.1 MDGA1 acts as inhibitory synapse suppressor 3
1.3.2 MDGA2 acts as excitatory synapse suppressor 4
1.3.3 MDGA family proteins are also expressed in astrocytes 5
1.4 Astrocytes contribute to the formation and functioning of the neural circuits 5
1.4.1 Astrocytes constitute the tripartite synapse structure 6
1.4.2 Astrocyte-secreted molecules guide synapse formation and development 7
1.4.3 Astrocytic cell-adhesion molecules regulate the formation and functioning of the neural circuits 7
1.4.4 Dysfunction in astrocyte-neuron communication is implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders and brain diseases 9
ⅠI. Resources and Methods 11
2.1 Mouse lines 11
2.2 Animal husbandry and handling 11
2.3 Expression vector 11
2.4 Antibodies 12
2.5 Cell culture 13
2.6 Immunocytochemistry 15
2.7 Quantitative RT-PCR 15
2.8 Production of lentiviral recombinant virus 16
2.9 Production of AAV viral recombinant virus 17
2.10 RNAscope in situ hybridization combined with immunohistochemistry 18
2.11 Stereotaxic surgery 19
2.12 Immunohistochemistry 19
2.13 Data analysis 20
ⅠII. Result 21
3.1 Mdga1 is primarily expressed in neurons, while Mdga2 is found in a wide variety of cell types, including astrocytes 21
3.2 Astrocytic Mdga1 mRNA expression is negligible, while astrocytic Mdga2 mRNA constitutes a significant proportion relative to neuronal expression 22
3.3 Deletion of astrocytic MDGA1 does not affect synapse formation in vitro 23
3.4 Deletion of astrocytic MDGA2 increases inhibitory synapse formation in vitro 24
3.5 Generation and validation of astrocyte Mdga2 cKO mouse model 24
ⅠV. Figures 26
V. Discussion 49
VI. References 54

URI

https://scholar.dgist.ac.kr/handle/20.500.11750/59647
http://dgist.dcollection.net/common/orgView/200000945072

DOI

10.22677/THESIS.200000945072

Degree

Master

Department

Department of Brain Sciences

Publisher

DGIST

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