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Synaptic vesicle mobility in mouse motor nerve terminals with and without synapsin

Michael A Gaffield1, William J Betz

  • 1Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Medical School, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|December 14, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Synaptic vesicle mobility is regulated by a novel phospho-protein, not synapsin, in mouse motor nerve terminals. This protein

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Synaptic vesicle mobility is crucial for neurotransmission.
  • Synapsins are known regulators of synaptic vesicle pools.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms governing vesicle mobility remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of synapsins in regulating synaptic vesicle mobility.
  • To identify key regulators of synaptic vesicle mobility in mouse motor nerve terminals.
  • To explore the impact of temperature and pharmacological agents on vesicle dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) using FM 1-43 staining.
  • Analysis of wild-type (WT) and synapsin triple knock-out (TKO) mouse motor nerve terminals.
  • Pharmacological manipulation of kinase and phosphatase activity, actin cytoskeleton, and intracellular calcium.

Main Results:

  • Synaptic vesicles exhibited temperature-dependent mobility, being mobile at physiological but immobile at room temperature.
  • Okadaic acid (phosphatase inhibitor) increased mobility, while staurosporine (kinase inhibitor) decreased it at physiological temperature.
  • Synapsin TKO mice had fewer vesicles and reduced staining but displayed normal synaptic transmission and vesicle mobility.
  • Actin disruption and calcium reduction did not significantly affect mobility.

Conclusions:

  • Synaptic vesicle mobility is primarily regulated by a synapsin-independent phospho-protein.
  • This novel phospho-protein is a key determinant of vesicle dynamics in nerve terminals.
  • Temperature significantly influences synaptic vesicle mobility, suggesting thermosensitive regulatory mechanisms.

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