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Related Concept Videos

Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane01:26

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.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
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Vesicular Tubular Clusters

After budding out from the ER membrane, some COPII vesicles lose their coat and fuse with one another to form larger vesicles and interconnected tubules called vesicular tubular clusters or VTCs. These clusters constitute a compartment at the ER-Golgi interface known as ERGIC (Endoplasmic Reticulum Golgi Intermediate Compartment). The ERGIC is a mobile membrane-bound cargo transport system that sorts proteins secreted from ER and delivers them to the Golgi.
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Exocytosis00:50

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
07:30

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Published on: September 4, 2017

Pushing synaptic vesicles over the RIM.

Pascal S Kaeser1

  • 1Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation & Translational Neurosciences; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology; Stanford University; Stanford, CA USA.

Cellular Logistics
|September 17, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rab3-interacting molecules (RIMs) orchestrate neurotransmitter release by tethering Ca(2+) channels and activating synaptic vesicle priming. These functions, executed by independent RIM domains, ensure efficient and plastic synaptic vesicle release.

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An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
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An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

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Examination of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Using FM Dyes During Evoked, Spontaneous, and Miniature Synaptic Activities
08:10

Examination of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Using FM Dyes During Evoked, Spontaneous, and Miniature Synaptic Activities

Published on: March 31, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
07:30

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Published on: September 4, 2017

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
09:33

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

Published on: June 26, 2018

Examination of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Using FM Dyes During Evoked, Spontaneous, and Miniature Synaptic Activities
08:10

Examination of Synaptic Vesicle Recycling Using FM Dyes During Evoked, Spontaneous, and Miniature Synaptic Activities

Published on: March 31, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Neurotransmitter release occurs at active zones, specialized protein networks in presynaptic nerve terminals.
  • Active zones organize synaptic vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane, crucial for neuronal communication.
  • Rab3-interacting molecules (RIMs) are key proteins within active zones, regulating vesicle release.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically dissect the molecular mechanisms of RIM function in synaptic vesicle release.
  • To elucidate how RIMs contribute to the organization and regulation of active zones.
  • To understand the role of RIMs in orchestrating the process of neurotransmitter release.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic experimental dissection of Rab3-interacting molecules (RIMs).
  • Analysis of protein domain functions in active zone organization.
  • Investigation of molecular interactions governing synaptic vesicle priming and fusion.

Main Results:

  • RIMs perform two critical active zone functions via independent protein domains.
  • RIMs tether presynaptic Ca(2+) channels to the active zone.
  • RIMs activate synaptic vesicle priming by monomerizing the inactive Munc13 protein.

Conclusions:

  • RIMs orchestrate synaptic vesicle release into a coherent process.
  • RIMs form a molecular platform essential for the plasticity of synaptic vesicle release.
  • Understanding RIM function provides insights into the regulation of neuronal communication.