OPINION Proteostasis in complex dendrites

Like all cells, neurons are made of proteins that have characteristic synthesis and degradation profiles. Unlike other cells, however, neurons have a unique multipolar architecture that makes similar to 10,000 synaptic contacts with other neurons. Both the stability and modifiability of the neuronal proteome are crucial for its information-processing, storage and plastic properties. The cell biological mechanisms that synthesize, modify, deliver and degrade dendritic and synaptic proteins are not well understood but appear to reflect unique solutions adapted to the particular morphology of neurons.