The synapsins and the regulation of synaptic function.
Synapsin I and II are a family of synaptic vesicle-associated phosphoproteins involved in the short-term regulation of neurotransmitter release. In this review, we discuss a working model for the molecular mechanisms by which the synapsins act. We propose that synapsin I links synaptic vesicles to actin filaments in the presynaptic nerve terminal and that these interactions are modulated by the reversible phosphorylation of synapsin I through various signal transduction pathways. The high degree of homology between the synapsins suggests that some of the functional properties of synapsin I are also shared by synapsin II.
Bähler
M
M
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockfeller University, New York, NY 10021.
Benfenati
F
F
Valtorta
F
F
Greengard
P
P
D000818:Animals; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D016704:Synapsins; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016704:Synapsins