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Updated: Sep 25, 2026

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
Published on: June 26, 2018
[Proteins regulating neurotransmitter release of synaptic vesicles at nerve terminals]
Qian Cai1, Pei-Hua Lu, Zu-Hang Sheng
1Department of Neurobiology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025.
Abstract:
Neurotransmitter release of synaptic vesicle at nerve terminals is a complicated and elaborately regulated process, involving a cascade of protein-protein interactions. The SNARE core complex consisting of synaptobrevin/VAMP (a synaptic-terminal protein), syntaxin and SNAP-25 (synaptic membrane-associated proteins), acts as the membrane fusion machinery and plays essential roles in synaptic vesicle exocytosis. This review will discuss proteins with potential roles in synaptic vesicle exocytosis by regulating assembly, disassembly and the function of SNARE complex, and sum up the molecular model of vesicle exocytosis.
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