Synaptic activity imposes large energy demands that are met by local adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis through glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. ATP drives action potentials, supports synapse assembly and remodelling, and fuels synaptic vesicle filling and recycling, thus sustaining synaptic transmission. Given their polarized morphological features — including long axons and extensive branching in their terminal regions — neurons face exceptional challenges in maintaining presynaptic energy homeostasis, particularly during intensive synaptic activity. Recent studies have started to uncover the mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in activity-dependent and energy-sensitive regulation of presynaptic energetics, or ‘synaptoenergetics’. These conceptual advances have established the energetic regulation of synaptic efficacy and plasticity as an exciting research field that is relevant to a range of neurological disorders associated with bioenergetic failure and synaptic dysfunction.

突触活动产生大量能量需求，通过糖酵解和线粒体氧化磷酸化合成局部三磷酸腺苷 (ATP) 来满足这些需求。ATP 驱动动作电位，支持突触组装和重塑，并促进突触囊泡填充和回收，从而维持突触传递。鉴于它们的极化形态特征——包括长轴突和末端区域的广泛分支——神经元在维持突触前能量稳态方面面临着巨大的挑战，特别是在密集的突触活动期间。最近的研究已经开始揭示突触前能量学或“突触能量学”的活动依赖性和能量敏感调节所涉及的机制和信号通路。