Identification of a protein related to tubulin in the postsynaptic density.

The postsynaptic density is a unique subcellular organelle associated with the synaptic complex and appears as an electron-dense area immediately subjacent to the postsynaptic plasma membrane. The postsynaptic density was isolated from the synaptosomal fraction and the protein constituents were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Polypeptides closely related to tubulin were identified as a major component of the postsynaptic density on the basis of molecular weight, subunit structure, and peptide map criteria.