title: Naked dense bodies provoke depression.
abstract: At presynaptic active zones (AZs), the frequently observed tethering of synaptic vesicles to an electron-dense cytomatrix represents a process of largely unknown functional significance. Here, we identified a hypomorphic allele, brpnude, lacking merely the last 1% of the C-terminal amino acids (17 of 1740) of the active zone protein Bruchpilot. In brpnude, electron-dense bodies were properly shaped, though entirely bare of synaptic vesicles. While basal glutamate release was unchanged, paired-pulse and sustained stimulation provoked depression. Furthermore, rapid recovery following sustained release was slowed. Our results causally link, with intramolecular precision, the tethering of vesicles at the AZ cytomatrix to synaptic depression.
authors.affiliation: Carl-Ludwig-Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hallermann
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kittel
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weyhersmüller
authors.forename: Wernher
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fouquet
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mertel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Owald
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eimer
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Depner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwärzel
authors.forename: Stephan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sigrist
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heckmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007700:Kinetics; D007814:Larva; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology*; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C510146:BRP protein, Drosophila; D015220:Calcium Channels; D029721:Drosophila Proteins