title: Cell biology of the presynaptic terminal.
abstract: The chemical synapse is a specialized intercellular junction that operates nearly autonomously to allow rapid, specific, and local communication between neurons. Focusing our attention on the presynaptic terminal, we review the current understanding of how synaptic morphology is maintained and then the mechanisms in synaptic vesicle exocytosis and recycling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. vnmurthy@fas.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Venkatesh N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Camilli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000502:physiology