Location matters: synaptotagmin helps place vesicles near calcium channels.
Positioning releasable vesicles near voltage-gated calcium channels may ensure transmitter release upon calcium influx. Disruption of vesicle positioning may underlie short-term synaptic depression. However, how this positioning is achieved is unclear. In this issue of Neuron, Young and Neher find that synaptotagmin 2 helps to align readily releasable vesicles near calcium channels at nerve terminals.
McNeil
Benjamin D
BD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Wu
Ling-Gang
LG
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000502:physiology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D050857:Synaptotagmins / Q000502:physiology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D050857:Synaptotagmins