Synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) acts as a calcium sensor to mediate synchronous calcium-triggered synaptic vesicle exocytosis in neurons. Syt1 deletion in forebrain neurons prevents such transmission and reveals a slower form of neurotransmitter release — asynchronous release — for which the calcium sensor has been unclear. Bacaj et al. show that hippocampal neurons express two calcium-binding SYTs — SYT1 and SYT7 — and that loss of SYT7 in SYT1-deficient neurons suppresses asynchronous release. This could be rescued by SYT7 expression, indicating that SYT7 may act as the second calcium sensor in these neurons.
References
Bacaj, T. et al. Synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 trigger synchronous and asynchronous phases of neurotransmitter release. Neuron 80, 947–959 (2013)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yates, D. The second sensor. Nat Rev Neurosci 15, 5 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3663
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3663