Rate-limiting steps in transmitter release

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24300144
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology and muscle physiology
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: SAKABA Takeshi 同志社大学, 脳科学研究科, 教授 (80609511)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 神経科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have obtained the following new findings during the support period. (1) At the calyx of Held synapse in the auditory brainstem, we found that Intersectin, an endocytotic protein, is involved in synaptic vesicle replenishment (Sakaba et al., 2013, PNAS), suggesting tight coupling between exo- and endocytosis. In addition, using KI mice, we found that Munc13-1 is the downstream target of calmodulin and regulates synaptic vesicle replenishment and recovery from short-term synaptic depression (Lipstein et al., 2013, Neuron). (2) At the Purkinje cell output synapse, we have performed direct presynaptic recordings and found that action potential attenuation specifically at the presynaptic terminal, but not at the axon, determines short-term synaptic depression (Kawaguchi and Sakaba, 2015, Neuron). Unlike glutamatergic synapses, synaptic vesicle dynamics may not be a limiting factor at inhibitory synapses. This issue needs future investigation.

Free Research Field

神経生理学