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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
Published on: September 4, 2017
A continuum model of docking of synaptic vesicle to plasma membrane
Abstract:
Neurotransmitter release from neuronal terminals is governed by synaptic vesicle fusion. Vesicles filled with transmitters are docked at the neuronal membrane by means of the SNARE machinery. After a series of events leading up to the fusion pore formation, neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft. In this paper, we study the mechanics of the docking process. A continuum model is used to determine the deformation of a spherical vesicle and a plasma membrane, under the influence of SNARE-machinery forces and electrostatic repulsion. Our analysis provides information on the variation of in-plane stress in the membranes, which is known to affect fusion. Also, a simple model is proposed to study hemifusion.
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