title: Enhancement of synaptic vesicle attachment to the plasma membrane fraction by copper.
abstract: Synaptic vesicles from rat brain were labeled with 125I, and the association of the vesicles with other subcellular components of brain was examined using a centrifugation assay. Copper at micromolar concentrations enhances the binding of the vesicles to the synaptic membrane as well as other fractions. Magnesium, Ca2+, and calmodulin with Ca2+ are ineffective. There is virtually no binding of synaptic vesicles to the microtuble fraction and only a slight enhancement with Cu2+. These findings support the hypothesis that Cu may serve as a bridge between synaptic vesicles and the plasma membrane.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper