Cell-Type-Specific Neuroproteomics of Synapses

In the last two decades, our knowledge of synaptic proteomes and their relationship to normal brain function and neuropsychiatric disorders has been expanding rapidly through the use of more powerful neuroproteomic approaches. However, mass spectrometry (MS)-based neuroproteomic studies of synapses still require cell-type, spatial, and temporal proteome information. With the advancement of sample preparation and MS techniques, we have just begun to identify and understand proteomes within a given cell type, subcellular compartment, and cell-type-specific synapse. Here, we review the progress and limitations of MS-based neuroproteomics of synapses in the mammalian CNS and highlight the recent applications of these approaches in studying neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder and substance use disorders. Combining neuroproteomic findings with other omics studies can generate an in-depth, comprehensive map of synaptic proteomes and possibly identify new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for several central nervous system disorders.