SYNPO, also known as synaptopodin, is an actin-associated protein in telencephalic dendrites and renal podocytes. SYNPO is tightly associated with the dendritic spine apparatus, and mice lacking the SYNPO gene lack the apparatus. These SYNPO-null mice also demonstrate an impaired ability to express long-term potentiation as well as deficits in spatial memory tasks, indicating that SYNPO is involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity. Recent studies suggest that SYNPO is linked to neuronal calcium stores and plays a role in the calcium store-associated ability of neurons to undergo long-term plasticity.Synonyms: KIAA1029