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Related Concept Videos

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)01:32

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)

Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...
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Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane

Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...

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Progress in understanding the neuronal SNARE function and its regulation.

T-Y Yoon1, Y-K Shin

  • 1Department of Physics and KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, KAIST, 373-1 Guseong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Korea. tyyoon@kaist.ac.kr

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vesicle fusion, crucial for cell delivery, is driven by SNARE proteins. New research integrates models and pinpoints fusion effector actions and their energy dynamics with SNARE complexes.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular dynamics

Background:

  • Vesicle budding and fusion are fundamental cellular processes for biochemical delivery in eukaryotes.
  • The core machinery is believed to involve the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein family.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent findings on vesicle fusion intermediates and effector actions.
  • To present a new mechanistic model reconciling existing fusion models.
  • To elucidate the role of fusion effectors and their energetic interplay with SNARE complexes.

Main Methods:

  • Site-directed fluorescence labeling.
  • Single-molecule level nano-scale detection.
  • Mechanistic modeling and energetic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Identification of protein and lipid intermediates in the fusion pathway.
  • Characterization of molecular actions of fusion effectors.
  • A reconciled model integrating proteinaceous pore and hemifusion models.
  • Localization of fusion effector action points along the pathway.
  • Delineation of energetic interplay between SNARE complexes and effectors.

Conclusions:

  • Recent advances provide unprecedented insight into the molecular mechanisms of vesicle fusion.
  • The new model offers a unified view of the fusion pathway.
  • Understanding fusion effector roles and energetics is key to deciphering cellular transport.