Lecture 3: Neurotransmitter Release Machinery Flashcards
presynaptic neuron role
providing synaptic vesicles
- any given AP causes a quantal number of vesicles to fuse; train of APs causes more to fuse, but any one given AP does not cause a lot of NT release
postsynaptic neuron role
responds to NT message
- neurons can be both pre- and post-synaptic, just not at the same synapse
synaptic cleft role
NT diffuses from pre to post due to simple concentration gradient
- protein dense zone that helps organize and link the synapse, provides scaffolding
what is the tripartite synapse composed of
- presynaptic neuron
- postsynaptic neuron
- astrocyte
astrocyte role in synapse
- end feed surround synapse to insulate
- participate in NT and ion recycling (ex: get glutamate out of the synaptic terminal and turn back to glutamine)
- lots of Ca2+ signaling
proteins involved in NT loading
- transmitter transporters
- proton pump
proteins involved in mobilization
synapsins
proteins involved in docking
RIM coordinating complex (RIM, Rab 3 / Rab 27, RIM-BP, Munc13)
proteins involved in priming
- SNARE complex (synaptobrevin, syntaxin, SNAP-25, Munc18)
- Munc13
proteins involved in fusion
- synaptotagmin
- complexin
proteins involved in coating
- Clathrin
- AP-2
- Stonin
- AP180
- NSF
- SNAP
proteins involved in budding
- dynamin
- amphiphysin
proteins involved in uncoating
- clathrin
- auxilin
- Hsc-70
- endophilin
- synaptojanin
what is the regulated secretory pathway
a process of exocytosis in which soluble proteins and other substances are initially stored in secretory vesicles for later release in response to a signal
what is the constitutive secretory pathway
after vesicle leaves the Golgi apparatus and ER, there are things that can help convert precursors into the new signal inside the vesicle
- no need for a signal
main differences between neurotransmission and the typical regulated secretory pathway
- product that goes into these regulated secretory pathways is already in its complete form
- vesicle at membrane will not fuse without a signal
advantage of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
allows it to be very fast, and very reliable
2 essential adaptations in regulated secretory process that support the speed of synaptic transmission
- small, clear core vesicles
- local vesicle recycling in the endosome – avoids having to transport filled vesicles from Golgi
characteristics of small, clear core vesicles
- greatly simplified vesicle contents
- packaged up w/ small molecule NTs
- less proteins, so NTs must be in the vesicle in their ready forms
first step of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
delivery of synaptic vesicle membrane contents to the presynaptic plasma membrane
second step of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membrane components to form new synaptic vesicles directly
third step of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membrane components & delivery to endosome
fourth step of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
budding of synaptic vesicle from endosome
fifth step of chemical synaptic transmission as an adaptation of the regulated secretory pathway
loading of NT into synaptic vesicle