Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Synapse

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

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...

Neurons: The Cell Body and the Dendrites

Neurons: The Cell Body and the Dendrites

A typical nerve cell comprises three main components: the cell body, dendrites, and the axon. The cell body, also known as the soma or perikaryon, serves as the central biosynthetic hub housing a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm containing organelles commonly found in most cells. Notably, Nissl bodies, clusters of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes responsible for protein synthesis, are distinctive features of the neuronal cell body. As neurons age, aggregates of a brown pigment...

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to cellular...

Synaptic Signaling

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Dysferlin Protein-Protein Interaction Pathways in the Organ of Corti and Spiral Ganglion Intersect with Alzheimer's Protein Pathways.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Same author

Protein Interaction Analysis by Surface Plasmon Resonance.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2023

Same author

Analysis of Dysferlin Direct Interactions with Putative Repair Proteins Links Apoptotic Signaling to Ca<sup>2+</sup> Elevation via PDCD6 and FKBP8.

International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Same author

Analysis of Protein Interactions by Surface Plasmon Resonance.

Advances in protein chemistry and structural biology·2018

Same author

Dopamine D1A directly interacts with otoferlin synaptic pathway proteins: Ca2+ and phosphorylation underlie an NSF-to-AP2mu1 molecular switch.

The Biochemical journal·2016

Same author

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis of Binding Interactions of Inner-Ear Proteins.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2016

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Aplysia Ganglia Preparation for Electrophysiological and Molecular Analyses of Single Neurons

Aplysia Ganglia Preparation for Electrophysiological and Molecular Analyses of Single Neurons

Published on: January 13, 2014

The SNARE complex in neuronal and sensory cells.

Neeliyath A Ramakrishnan¹, Marian J Drescher, Dennis G Drescher

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. neelramakrishnan@gmail.com

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences

|April 14, 2012

Summary

This review explores SNARE proteins in neuronal and sensory cells, highlighting their critical roles in fast synaptic transmission and how their deficits impact brain and sensory organ function.

More Related Videos

Cell Subtype-specific Analysis of Neuronal Membrane Proteasome in Somatosensory Neurons

Cell Subtype-specific Analysis of Neuronal Membrane Proteasome in Somatosensory Neurons

Published on: October 10, 2025

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis

Published on: March 16, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Aplysia Ganglia Preparation for Electrophysiological and Molecular Analyses of Single Neurons

Aplysia Ganglia Preparation for Electrophysiological and Molecular Analyses of Single Neurons

Published on: January 13, 2014

Cell Subtype-specific Analysis of Neuronal Membrane Proteasome in Somatosensory Neurons

Cell Subtype-specific Analysis of Neuronal Membrane Proteasome in Somatosensory Neurons

Published on: October 10, 2025

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis

Published on: March 16, 2016

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Synaptic transmission enables rapid information processing in the brain, crucial for decision-making.
Neuronal and neurosensory cells utilize distinct synaptic structures: active zones and ribbon synapses, respectively.
Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are key regulators of exocytosis and neurotransmitter release.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current findings on SNARE proteins and their modulators in neuronal versus sensory cells.
To discuss the molecular differences in synaptic complexes between these cell types.
To examine the impact of SNARE protein deficits on human brain and sensory organ function.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on SNARE proteins in synaptic transmission.
Comparative analysis of SNARE protein function in neuronal and neurosensory systems.
Discussion of clinical investigations into SNARE protein-related disorders.

Main Results:

SNARE proteins play a conserved but differentially regulated role in synaptic vesicle exocytosis across cell types.
Structural differences in active zones and ribbon synapses correlate with distinct SNARE complex compositions and functions.
Deficits in SNARE protein expression are linked to neurological and sensory impairments in humans.

Conclusions:

Understanding cell-type-specific SNARE protein functions is essential for comprehending neural communication.
SNARE proteins represent potential therapeutic targets for disorders affecting the brain and sensory organs.
Further research into SNARE protein regulation and dysfunction will advance neuroscience and clinical treatments.