Methods to Study the Role of Cytoskeletal Motor Proteins in the Organization of the Postsynaptic Membrane.

The organization of cytoskeletal elements and proteins on the postsynaptic side of a synaptic connection is crucial for neuronal function. The postsynaptic compartment receives and processes the signal for proper neuronal communication and signaling. Here, we provide methods to analyze the role of cytoskeletal motors, such as cytoplasmic dynein, in the organization of the postsynaptic membrane. In this chapter, we describe how to measure and quantify the protein abundance at the postsynaptic membrane. Additionally, we describe how to measure the size of ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluRs) clusters to understand their organization on the postsynaptic side of the junction.