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  • The EMBO Journal (2003) 22, 5347 - 5357
  • doi:10.1093/emboj/cdg514

Synaptotagmin 7 splice variants differentially regulate synaptic vesicle recycling

Tuhin Virmani1, Weiping Han1,2, Xinran Liu1,3, Thomas C. Südhof1,2,3 and Ege T. Kavalali1,4

  1. Center for Basic Neuroscience, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
  3. Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
  4. Department of Physiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA

Correspondence to:

Ege T. Kavalali, E-mail: Ege.Kavalali@UTSouthwestern.edu

Received 30 May 2003; Accepted 15 August 2003; Revised 4 August 2003

The speed of synaptic vesicle recycling determines the efficacy of neurotransmission during repetitive stimulation. Synaptotagmins are synaptic C2-domain proteins that are involved in exocytosis, but have also been linked to endocytosis. We now demonstrate that upon expression in transfected neurons, a short splice variant of synaptotagmin 7 that lacks C2-domains accelerates endocytic recycling of synaptic vesicles, whereas a longer splice variant that contains C2-domains decelerates recycling. These results suggest that alternative splicing of synaptotagmin 7 acts as a molecular switch, which targets vesicles to fast and slow recycling pathways.

  • Keywords:

    • FM1-43,
    • hippocampal synapse,
    • kiss and run,
    • synaptic vesicle recycling,
    • synaptotagmin 7