Shank proteins make up a family of scaffold proteins identified through their interaction with a variety of
membrane and cytoplasmic proteins (3). Shank proteins at
postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses play roles in signal
transmission into the postsynaptic neuron. Studies suggest
that Shank2 is expressed in the neurons of the developing
retina, and could play a role in the neuronal differentiation
of the developing retina (4). Other recent studies suggest
that the disruption of glutamate receptors at the Shank postsynaptic
platform could contribute to the destruction of
the postsynaptic density, which underlies the synaptic
dysfunction and loss in Alzheimer’s disease (5).