Fundamental cellular properties are determined by the repertoire and abundance of proteins displayed on the cell surface. As such, the trafficking mechanisms for establishing and maintaining the surface proteome must be tightly regulated for cells to respond appropriately to extracellular cues, yet plastic enough to adapt to ever-changing environments. Not only are the identity and abundance of surface proteins critical, but in many cases, their regulated spatial positioning within surface nanodomains can greatly impact their function. In the context of neuronal cell biology, surface levels and positioning of ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors play essential roles in establishing important properties, including cellular excitability and synaptic strength. Here we review our current understanding of the trafficking pathways that control the abundance and localization of proteins important for synaptic function and plasticity, as well as recent technological advances that are allowing the field to investigate protein trafficking with increasing spatiotemporal precision.

基本的细胞特性是由细胞表面显示的全部蛋白质和丰富的蛋白质决定的。因此，必须严格调节用于建立和维持表面蛋白质组的运输机制，以使细胞对细胞外信号做出适当反应，并且具有足够的可塑性以适应不断变化的环境。表面蛋白的特性和丰富度不仅至关重要，而且在许多情况下，它们在表面纳米域中的空间定位可能会极大地影响其功能。在神经元细胞生物学的背景下，离子通道和神经递质受体的表面水平和位置在建立重要特性（包括细胞兴奋性和突触强度）中起着至关重要的作用。