Emerging roles of presynaptic proteins in Ca++-triggered exocytosis.
The twinning of techniques from biophysics and molecular biology has led to remarkable progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission. Here we review the current picture of Ca++-triggered exocytosis, which has emerged from studies of a simple cellular model, the adrenal chromaffin cell. We discuss the molecular players that have been assigned a specific role in a particular step of this process and give a brief outlook on what these insights might tell us about mechanisms of short-term plasticity at classical synapses.
Rettig
Jens
J
Department of Physiology, Saarland University, Homburg, 66421 Germany. jrettig@uniklinik-saarland.de
Neher
Erwin
E
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D019439:Chromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005089:Exocytosis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002118:Calcium