Synaptic Vesicle Phosphoproteins and Regulation of Synaptic Function

Complex brain functions, such as learning and memory, are believed to involve changes in the efficiency of communication between nerve cells. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic transmission, the process of intercellular communication, is an essential step t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1993-02, Vol.259 (5096), p.780-785
Main Authors: Greengard, Paul, Valtorta, Flavia, Czernik, Andrew J., Benfenati, Fabio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins
Analysis
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Brain research
Calcium-Binding Proteins
Cell membranes
Cell physiology
Exocytosis
function
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Homeostasis
Membrane and intracellular transports
Membrane Glycoproteins - physiology
Models, Neurological
Molecular and cellular biology
Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology
Nerves
Nervous system
Neural transmission
Neurons
Neuroscience
Neurotransmitters
phosphoproteins
Phosphoproteins - metabolism
Phosphorylation
Physiological regulation
Protein Kinases - metabolism
regulation
Synapses
Synapses - physiology
Synapses - ultrastructure
synapsin I
Synapsins
Synapsins - physiology
Synaptic transmission
synaptic vesicles
Synaptic Vesicles - physiology
Synaptic Vesicles - ultrastructure
Synaptotagmins
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Summary:Complex brain functions, such as learning and memory, are believed to involve changes in the efficiency of communication between nerve cells. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic transmission, the process of intercellular communication, is an essential step toward understanding nervous system function. Several proteins associated with synaptic vesicles, the organelles that store neurotransmitters, are targets for protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. One of these phosphoproteins, synapsin I, by means of changes in its state of phosphorylation, appears to control the fraction of synaptic vesicles available for release and thereby to regulate the efficiency of neurotransmitter release. This article describes current understanding of the mechanism by which synapsin I modulates communication between nerve cells and reviews the properties and putative functions of other phosphoproteins associated with synaptic vesicles.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.8430330