title: Regulation of transmitter release by Unc-13 and its homologues.
abstract: Neurotransmitters are released by Ca(2+)-triggered exocytotic fusion of synaptic vesicles. Before fusion, vesicles dock at a specialised presynaptic plasma membrane region, the active zone, where they are primed to a fusion competent state. The nature of this priming reaction has long been enigmatic. Recent evidence demonstrates that priming is an essential and rate-limiting step in secretion from neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Members of the Unc-13 protein family, which are highly conserved during evolution and act as novel targets of the diacylglycerol second-messenger pathway, have been identified to play an essential role in this process.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Experimentelle Medizin, AG Molekulare Neurobiologie, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany. brose@em.mpg.de
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brose
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosenmund
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rettig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C083141:phorbol ester binding protein