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Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 February 2019) | Viewed by 38576

Special Issue Editor

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It's widely acknowledged that the final steps underlying fast, synchronous exocytosis at nerve terminals involve a small cast of proteins: Synaptotagmin-1 (or, -2), the three SNARE (soluble, N-ethyl-maleimide sensitive factor attachment receptor) proteins, complexins, and muncs-13 and -18. However, in spite of significant contributions from imaging and structural biology, genetic structure-function analyses and biochemical reconstitution experiments, the field still has not converged on a description of the final steps that lead to the fusion of the synaptic vesicle membrane with the presynaptic plasma membrane. This Special Issue will focus on investigations ranging from the control of Ca2+ entry at nerve terminals to detailed studies of the machinery that catalyzes the membrane fusion step of regulated exocytosis.

Prof. Cameron Gundersen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Exocytosis; Membrane Fusion; Synaptic Vesicles; SNAREs, Synaptotagmin, Complexin; Munc-13; Munc-18; Calcium channels; Active zone; Release Machinery

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2894 KiB  
Article
Environmental Enrichment Enhances Cav 2.1 Channel-Mediated Presynaptic Plasticity in Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy
by Suk-Young Song, Soonil Pyo, Sungchul Choi, Hee Sang Oh, Jung Hwa Seo, Ji Hea Yu, Ahreum Baek, Yoon-Kyum Shin, Hoo Young Lee, Ja Young Choi and Sung-Rae Cho
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073414 - 26 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2818
Abstract
Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating neonatal brain condition caused by lack of oxygen and limited blood flow. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a classic paradigm with a complex stimulation of physical, cognitive, and social components. EE can exert neuroplasticity and neuroprotective effects in [...] Read more.
Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating neonatal brain condition caused by lack of oxygen and limited blood flow. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a classic paradigm with a complex stimulation of physical, cognitive, and social components. EE can exert neuroplasticity and neuroprotective effects in immature brains. However, the exact mechanism of EE on the chronic condition of HIE remains unclear. HIE was induced by a permanent ligation of the right carotid artery, followed by an 8% O2 hypoxic condition for 1 h. At 6 weeks of age, HIE mice were randomly assigned to either standard cages or EE cages. In the behavioral assessments, EE mice showed significantly improved motor performances in rotarod tests, ladder walking tests, and hanging wire tests, compared with HIE control mice. EE mice also significantly enhanced cognitive performances in Y-maze tests. Particularly, EE mice showed a significant increase in Cav 2.1 (P/Q type) and presynaptic proteins by molecular assessments, and a significant increase of Cav 2.1 in histological assessments of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These results indicate that EE can upregulate the expression of the Cav 2.1 channel and presynaptic proteins related to the synaptic vesicle cycle and neurotransmitter release, which may be responsible for motor and cognitive improvements in HIE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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15 pages, 1952 KiB  
Article
Fluoxetine Suppresses Glutamate- and GABA-Mediated Neurotransmission by Altering SNARE Complex
by Vesna Lazarevic, Ioannis Mantas, Ivana Flais and Per Svenningsson
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(17), 4247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20174247 - 30 Aug 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6523
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders worldwide. The treatment of choice that shows good efficacy in mood stabilization is based on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Their primary mechanism of action is considered to be the increased synaptic [...] Read more.
Major depressive disorder is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders worldwide. The treatment of choice that shows good efficacy in mood stabilization is based on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Their primary mechanism of action is considered to be the increased synaptic concentration of serotonin through blockade of the serotonin transporter (SERT). In this study, we described an alternative mode of action of fluoxetine (FLX), which is a representative member of the SSRI class of antidepressants. We observed that FLX robustly decreases both glutamatergic and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic synaptic release in a SERT-independent manner. Moreover, we showed that this effect may stem from the ability of FLX to change the levels of main components of the SNARE (solubile N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex. Our data suggest that this downregulation of SNARE fusion machinery involves diminished activity of protein kinase C (PKC) due to FLX-induced blockade of P/Q type of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Taken together, by virtue of its inhibition at SERT, fluoxetine increases extracellular serotonin levels; however, at the same time, by reducing SNARE complex function, this antidepressant reduces glutamate and GABA release. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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Review

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16 pages, 602 KiB  
Review
Acute Functional Adaptations in Isolated Presynaptic Terminals Unveil Synaptosomal Learning and Memory
by Anna Pittaluga
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(15), 3641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20153641 - 25 Jul 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2377
Abstract
Synaptosomes are used to decipher the mechanisms involved in chemical transmission, since they permit highlighting the mechanisms of transmitter release and confirming whether the activation of presynaptic receptors/enzymes can modulate this event. In the last two decades, important progress in the field came [...] Read more.
Synaptosomes are used to decipher the mechanisms involved in chemical transmission, since they permit highlighting the mechanisms of transmitter release and confirming whether the activation of presynaptic receptors/enzymes can modulate this event. In the last two decades, important progress in the field came from the observations that synaptosomes retain changes elicited by both “in vivo” and “in vitro” acute chemical stimulation. The novelty of these studies is the finding that these adaptations persist beyond the washout of the triggering drug, emerging subsequently as functional modifications of synaptosomal performances, including release efficiency. These findings support the conclusion that synaptosomes are plastic entities that respond dynamically to ambient stimulation, but also that they “learn and memorize” the functional adaptation triggered by acute exposure to chemical agents. This work aims at reviewing the results so far available concerning this form of synaptosomal learning, also highlighting the role of these acute chemical adaptations in pathological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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26 pages, 1844 KiB  
Review
P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Stress and Depression
by Deidiane Elisa Ribeiro, Aline Lulho Roncalho, Talita Glaser, Henning Ulrich, Gregers Wegener and Sâmia Joca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(11), 2778; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20112778 - 06 Jun 2019
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 9613
Abstract
Stress exposure is considered to be the main environmental cause associated with the development of depression. Due to the limitations of currently available antidepressants, a search for new pharmacological targets for treatment of depression is required. Recent studies suggest that adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-mediated [...] Read more.
Stress exposure is considered to be the main environmental cause associated with the development of depression. Due to the limitations of currently available antidepressants, a search for new pharmacological targets for treatment of depression is required. Recent studies suggest that adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-mediated signaling through the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) might play a prominent role in regulating depression-related pathology, such as synaptic plasticity, neuronal degeneration, as well as changes in cognitive and behavioral functions. P2X7R is an ATP-gated cation channel localized in different cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), playing a crucial role in neuron-glia signaling. P2X7R may modulate the release of several neurotransmitters, including monoamines, nitric oxide (NO) and glutamate. Moreover, P2X7R stimulation in microglia modulates the innate immune response by activating the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, consistent with the neuroimmune hypothesis of MDD. Importantly, blockade of P2X7R leads to antidepressant-like effects in different animal models, which corroborates the findings that the gene encoding for the P2X7R is located in a susceptibility locus of relevance to depression in humans. This review will discuss recent findings linked to the P2X7R involvement in stress and MDD neuropathophysiology, with special emphasis on neurochemical, neuroimmune, and neuroplastic mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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14 pages, 1894 KiB  
Review
Synaptic Vesicles Having Large Contact Areas with the Presynaptic Membrane are Preferentially Hemifused at Active Zones of Frog Neuromuscular Junctions Fixed during Synaptic Activity
by Jae Hoon Jung
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(11), 2692; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20112692 - 31 May 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3866
Abstract
Synaptic vesicles dock on the presynaptic plasma membrane of axon terminals and become ready to fuse with the presynaptic membrane or primed. Fusion of the vesicle membrane and presynaptic membrane results in the formation of a pore between the membranes, through which the [...] Read more.
Synaptic vesicles dock on the presynaptic plasma membrane of axon terminals and become ready to fuse with the presynaptic membrane or primed. Fusion of the vesicle membrane and presynaptic membrane results in the formation of a pore between the membranes, through which the vesicle’s neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft. A recent electron tomography study on frog neuromuscular junctions fixed at rest showed that there is no discernible gap between or merging of the membrane of docked synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, however, the extent of the contact area between the membrane of docked synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membrane varies 10-fold with a normal distribution. The study also showed that when the neuromuscular junctions are fixed during repetitive electrical nerve stimulation, the portion of large contact areas in the distribution is reduced compared to the portion of small contact areas, suggesting that docked synaptic vesicles with the largest contact areas are greatly primed to fuse with the membrane. Furthermore, the finding of several hemifused synaptic vesicles among the docked vesicles was briefly reported. Here, the spatial relationship of 81 synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane at active zones of the neuromuscular junctions fixed during stimulation is described in detail. For the most of the vesicles, the combined thickness of each of their contact sites was not different from the sum of the membrane thicknesses of the vesicle membrane and presynaptic membrane, similar to the docked vesicles at active zones of the resting neuromuscular junctions. However, the combined membrane thickness of a small portion of the vesicles was considerably less than the sum of the membrane thicknesses, indicating that the membranes at their contact sites were fixed in a state of hemifusion. Moreover, the hemifused vesicles were found to have large contact areas with the presynaptic membrane. These findings support the recently proposed hypothesis that, at frog neuromuscular junctions, docked synaptic vesicles with the largest contact areas are most primed for fusion with the presynaptic membrane, and that hemifusion is a fusion intermediate step of the vesicle membrane with the presynaptic membrane for synaptic transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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19 pages, 1613 KiB  
Review
Presynaptic Calcium Channels
by Sumiko Mochida
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(9), 2217; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20092217 - 06 May 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5806
Abstract
Presynaptic Ca2+ entry occurs through voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels which are activated by membrane depolarization. Depolarization accompanies neuronal firing and elevation of Ca2+ triggers neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles. For synchronization of efficient neurotransmitter release, synaptic vesicles are [...] Read more.
Presynaptic Ca2+ entry occurs through voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels which are activated by membrane depolarization. Depolarization accompanies neuronal firing and elevation of Ca2+ triggers neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles. For synchronization of efficient neurotransmitter release, synaptic vesicles are targeted by presynaptic Ca2+ channels forming a large signaling complex in the active zone. The presynaptic CaV2 channel gene family (comprising CaV2.1, CaV2.2, and CaV2.3 isoforms) encode the pore-forming α1 subunit. The cytoplasmic regions are responsible for channel modulation by interacting with regulatory proteins. This article overviews modulation of the activity of CaV2.1 and CaV2.2 channels in the control of synaptic strength and presynaptic plasticity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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Graphical abstract

29 pages, 4833 KiB  
Review
Nanomachinery Organizing Release at Neuronal and Ribbon Synapses
by Rituparna Chakrabarti and Carolin Wichmann
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(9), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20092147 - 30 Apr 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7010
Abstract
A critical aim in neuroscience is to obtain a comprehensive view of how regulated neurotransmission is achieved. Our current understanding of synapses relies mainly on data from electrophysiological recordings, imaging, and molecular biology. Based on these methodologies, proteins involved in a synaptic vesicle [...] Read more.
A critical aim in neuroscience is to obtain a comprehensive view of how regulated neurotransmission is achieved. Our current understanding of synapses relies mainly on data from electrophysiological recordings, imaging, and molecular biology. Based on these methodologies, proteins involved in a synaptic vesicle (SV) formation, mobility, and fusion at the active zone (AZ) membrane have been identified. In the last decade, electron tomography (ET) combined with a rapid freezing immobilization of neuronal samples opened a window for understanding the structural machinery with the highest spatial resolution in situ. ET provides significant insights into the molecular architecture of the AZ and the organelles within the presynaptic nerve terminal. The specialized sensory ribbon synapses exhibit a distinct architecture from neuronal synapses due to the presence of the electron-dense synaptic ribbon. However, both synapse types share the filamentous structures, also commonly termed as tethers that are proposed to contribute to different steps of SV recruitment and exocytosis. In this review, we discuss the emerging views on the role of filamentous structures in SV exocytosis gained from ultrastructural studies of excitatory, mainly central neuronal compared to ribbon-type synapses with a focus on inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses. Moreover, we will speculate on the molecular entities that may be involved in filament formation and hence play a crucial role in the SV cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurotransmitter Secretion and Release)
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