title: Neurotransmitter release mechanisms studied in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The process of regulated exocytosis has received considerable interest as a key component of synaptic transmission. Fusion of presynaptic vesicles and the subsequent release of their neurotransmitter contents is driven by a series of interactions between evolutionarily conserved proteins. Key insights into the molecular mechanisms of vesicle fusion have come from research using genetic model systems such as the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. We review here the current knowledge regarding regulated exocytosis at the C. elegans synapse and future research directions involving this model organism.
authors.affiliation: The Physiological Laboratory, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. barclayj@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jeff W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051938:Munc18 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D050600:SNARE Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D050883:HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D051938:Munc18 Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins