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Mechanical actions of dendritic-spine enlargement on presynaptic exocytosis
A mechanism of mechanosensation and transduction in the presynaptic boutons is identified, in which sensing of fine pressure leads to enhanced neurotransmitter release.
- Hasan Ucar
- , Satoshi Watanabe
- & Haruo Kasai
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Letter |
Dynamics and number of trans-SNARE complexes determine nascent fusion pore properties
Analysis at high temporal and spatial resolution shows that the number and dynamics of SNARE proteins available during exocytosis determines the size and stability of fusion pores.
- Huan Bao
- , Debasis Das
- & Edwin R. Chapman
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Letter |
A tethering complex drives the terminal stage of SNARE-dependent membrane fusion
Tethering proteins, known to mediate initial recognition and attachment during membrane fusion, are essential for driving the transition from the hemifused state to fusion pore formation.
- Massimo D’Agostino
- , Herre Jelger Risselada
- & Andreas Mayer
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Letter |
A trans-synaptic nanocolumn aligns neurotransmitter release to receptors
Synaptic vesicle fusion, as evoked by action potentials, is confined to presynaptic protein nanoclusters, which are closely aligned with concentrated postsynaptic receptors and their scaffolding proteins—an organization termed a ‘nanocolumn’.
- Ai-Hui Tang
- , Haiwen Chen
- & Thomas A. Blanpied
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Letter |
Hemi-fused structure mediates and controls fusion and fission in live cells
Super-resolution imaging provides direct evidence in live cells that membrane fusion and fission are mediated through an intermediate hemi-fused structure, where fusion and calcium/dynamin-dependent fission mechanisms compete to determine the transition of the intermediate to fusion or fission.
- Wei-Dong Zhao
- , Edaeni Hamid
- & Ling-Gang Wu
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Letter |
A phosphoinositide conversion mechanism for exit from endosomes
A mechanism for phosphoinositide conversion at endosomes to enable exit from the endosomal system, suggesting that defective phosphoinositide conversion at endosomes underlies X-linked centronuclear myopathy.
- Katharina Ketel
- , Michael Krauss
- & Volker Haucke
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Article |
Ultrafast endocytosis at mouse hippocampal synapses
Sustained neurotransmission requires recycling of synaptic vesicles, but the proposed mechanisms have been controversial; here a ‘flash-and-freeze’ method for electron microscopy reveals a new ultrafast form of endocytosis that is actin- and dynamin-dependent and occurs within 100 milliseconds of stimulation.
- Shigeki Watanabe
- , Benjamin R. Rost
- & Erik M. Jorgensen
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Review Article |
Molecular machines governing exocytosis of synaptic vesicles
A brief survey of the molecular mechanisms that give the vesicle cycle in intact synapses its efficiency.
- Reinhard Jahn
- & Dirk Fasshauer
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Letter |
Calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 is an essential regulator of exocytosis in Toxoplasma
Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic human pathogen that secretes organelles called micronemes during infection. This is important for parasite motility, host-cell invasion and egress. It is now shown that the secretion of micronemes is dependent on the T. gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1. This kinase is not found in the parasite's mammalian hosts, and might represent a valid drug target.
- Sebastian Lourido
- , Joel Shuman
- & L. David Sibley