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Proteins Involved in the Presynaptic Functions

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Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology

Abstract

The proteins specific to the presynaptic terminal have been well-characterized, and a large number of the interactions among these proteins have been elucidated. The roles of some of these proteins in neurotransmitter release and synaptic vesicle recycling can be determined from their interactions, but electrophysiological data suggest that there remain additional steps whose molecular mechanisms are not yet known. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of each presynaptic protein, and we discuss some of the important interactions, including their regulation by Ca2+ and how they participate in the Ca2+-dependent steps of vesicular recycling.

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Abbreviations

CaMKII:

calmodulin kinase II

CSP:

cysteine string protein

NSF:

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor

RRP:

rapidly releasable pool

SNAPs:

soluble NSF-associated proteins

t-SNARE:

target SNARE

V-ATPase:

vacuolar-ATPase

v-SNARE:

vesicular SNARE

VAMP-2:

vesicle-associated membrane protein-2

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Acknowledgments

This work was in part supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, Sports, and Technology of Japan (#16044216; #17023019) and by grants to M.I. from the Project Promoting Program and the Strategic Research Program of the Niigata University. This article is dedicated to the late Yoshiaki Komiya (Emeritus Professor, Gunma University) for his encouragement when M.I. started in this field of research.

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  1. M. Igarashi
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  2. K. Ohko
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurochemistry, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 10962, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, New York, USA

    Abel Lajtha (Director) (Director)

  2. Group Director of Neuro-Developmental Disorder Research Group, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 351-0198, 2-1 Hirosawa Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan

    Katsuhiko Mikoshiba

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Igarashi, M., Ohko, K. (2009). Proteins Involved in the Presynaptic Functions. In: Lajtha, A., Mikoshiba, K. (eds) Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30370-3_5

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