Comparison of the significancea of several functionalities related with the synaptic activity across the three groups analyzed (Younger, Elder, and MCI)

FunctionalityYoungerElderMCI
Synaptic signaling23.6613.4810.66
Synaptic plasticity regulation12.5813.285.45
Synaptic organization12.774.512.70
Cellular response to serotonin3.062.300
Cellular response to catecholamines6.0200
Cellular response to epinephrine3.3600
Cellular response to dopamine3.1400
Cellular response to glycine2.9000
GABAergic signaling2.510b1.57
GAP junctions (electrical synapses)4.3104.44
Glutamatergic synaptic transmissionc11.357.243.19
Glutamatergic synaptic transmissiond18.575.4311.88
Glutamate secretion2.353.191.59
NMDAR activation & post-synaptic events8.306.604.00
Regulation of NMDAR activation2.542.046.05
Retrograde endocannabinoids signaling1.311.795.51
CA1-Schaffer collateral synapses2.621.843.45
Somato-dendritic compartment28.4112.318.62
Dendrites23.229.868.45
G protein-coupled glutamate receptors1.8802.36
G protein-coupled receptors4.311.511.93
BDNF signaling10.769.142.44
CREB1 activation by NMDAR/RAS1.3200
CREB1 activation by PKA01.320
CREB1 activation by CAMKIV01.320
MAPK cascade6.953.232.57
Trafficking AMPAR2.271.791.81
Membrane lipid rafts8.473.340
Response to mechanical stimulus9.005.811.45
Long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP)6.225.836.32
Long-term synaptic depression (LTD)3.164.2411.43
LTP: LTD ratio1.961.370.55

a The significance is quantified as –log10 (FDR), where FDR is the false discovery rate; b the Elder Group showed a negative regulation of GABAergic signaling (FDR = 4 × 10–2); c based on biological process ontology; d based on cellular component ontology. Note that a zero value denotes a non-significant functionality, as FDR = 1 (For details of the genes involved, see Tables S1S3)