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Related Concept Videos

Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action01:26

Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
11:02

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

Presynaptic signal transduction pathways that modulate synaptic transmission.

Arthur P H de Jong1, Matthijs Verhage

  • 1Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit (VU) and VU Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|June 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Presynaptic modulation, crucial for nervous system adaptation, involves residual calcium and receptor activation. Understanding these complex mechanisms and protein interactions is key to deciphering neurotransmitter secretion regulation.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Presynaptic modulation is vital for nervous system adaptability.
  • Neurotransmitter secretion is influenced by presynaptic axon activity and receptor signaling.
  • Underlying mechanisms of presynaptic modulation remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent insights into presynaptic signal transduction.
  • To propose blueprints of major pathways regulating neurotransmitter secretion.
  • To elucidate the roles of Ca(2+)-binding proteins and protein phosphorylation in presynaptic modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on presynaptic modulation.
  • Analysis of the roles of Ca(2+)-binding proteins.
  • Investigation of protein phosphorylation in presynaptic terminals.

Main Results:

  • Accumulation of residual calcium influences secretion.
  • Activation of presynaptic receptors modulates secretion.
  • Over 100 presynaptic proteins are phosphorylated, potentially regulating secretion.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between presynaptic signal transduction components is complex.
  • Ca(2+)-binding proteins and protein phosphorylation are key players in presynaptic modulation.
  • Further research is needed to identify dominant regulators and their integration in neurotransmitter secretion.