Abstract
Synapses, which mediate communication between neurons, include a diverse array of proteins. Among these, the postsynaptic density (PSD) contains over 1,000 distinct proteins that play crucial roles in maintaining synaptic structure and function. Proteomic analyses using mass spectrometry have contributed to the identification and quantification of PSD‐localized proteins. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on elucidating how the protein composition of synapses and the PSD changes under various physiological conditions and in neuropsychiatric disorders, with the aim of advancing our understanding of brain function and disease pathophysiology. This review provides an overview of PSD‐localized proteins and discusses changes in PSD protein composition during postnatal development and in neuropsychiatric disorders, incorporating recent findings from the authors. Furthermore, I discuss how these insights could contribute to unraveling the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric disorders and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
