2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Analysis of the structure and function of single active zone using two-photon microscopy
| Project/Area Number |
20700357
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Neurophysiology and muscle physiology
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| Research Institution | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
YAMASHITA Takayuki Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 細胞分子シナプス機能ユニット, グループリーダー (40466321)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2010
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| Keywords | シナプス / シナプス伝達 / エンドサイトーシス / カルシウム / 2光子励起顕微鏡 |
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| Research Abstract |
Role of active zone, the site from which transmitter is released, in synaptic transmission is poorly understood. In this study, I attempted to investigate the structure and function of each active zone which had never been explored. Although I planned at the beginning to apply an optical method using two-photon microscopy, it was found not to be feasible experimentally. Therefore, I used a pharmacological approach to distinguish between active zones and other areas in a presynaptic terminal. Our novel findings indicated that transmitter release and its maintenance are finely controlled in the vicinity of each Ca channel which is thought to locate in the center of active zone.
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