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Related Concept Videos

Lysosomes01:31

Lysosomes

26.8K
Lysosomes are membrane-enclosed spherical sacs derived from the Golgi apparatus. The most important function of the lysosome is degrading macromolecules and biological polymers that are released during membrane trafficking events such as the secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The degradation is carried out by several hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen. These acid hydrolases are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling,...
26.8K
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane01:26

Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane

19.1K
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...
19.1K
Maturation of Endosomes01:28

Maturation of Endosomes

6.0K
The early endosome containing internalized molecules matures through transformations in its location, morphology, intraluminal pH, and membrane protein composition. Together, these changes result in a more acidic late endosome that contains multiple intraluminal vesicles; therefore, the late endosome is also called a multivesicular body (MVB).
Changes in location
The maturing endosome moves along microtubules from the periphery of the cell towards the perinuclear region. This movement of the...
6.0K
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

4.7K
Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
4.7K
Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

6.0K
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
6.0K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

10.4K
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
10.4K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
07:30

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Published on: September 4, 2017

10.5K

Lysosomes convene to keep the synapse clean.

Natalia L Kononenko1

  • 1Cologne Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany n.kononenko@uni-koeln.de.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|July 21, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Lysosomes are shown to be present at dendritic spines, regulating synaptic remodeling. Neuronal activity guides lysosomes to these sites for local protein degradation, impacting receptor levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Lysosomes regulate alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) levels at neuronal plasma membranes.
  • The presence and function of lysosomes in distal dendrites, particularly at dendritic spines, remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the precise localization and role of lysosomes in neuronal dendrites, specifically at dendritic spines.
  • To elucidate the impact of neuronal activity on lysosome positioning and function in synapses.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced microscopy techniques to visualize lysosome dynamics in neurons.
  • Employed methods to stimulate neuronal activity and observe subsequent changes in lysosome localization.
  • Investigated the role of local protein degradation mediated by lysosomes in synaptic structures.

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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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Characterization of Neuronal Lysosome Interactome with Proximity Labeling Proteomics
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Characterization of Neuronal Lysosome Interactome with Proximity Labeling Proteomics

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons
07:30

Measuring Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Published on: September 4, 2017

10.5K
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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Characterization of Neuronal Lysosome Interactome with Proximity Labeling Proteomics
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Characterization of Neuronal Lysosome Interactome with Proximity Labeling Proteomics

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Main Results:

  • Demonstrated for the first time that neuronal activity actively positions lysosomes at dendritic spines.
  • Showcased that these spine-localized lysosomes facilitate local protein degradation.
  • Provided evidence linking lysosome activity at spines to synaptic remodeling processes.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal activity is a key regulator of lysosome positioning within dendrites.
  • Lysosomes play a critical role in synaptic remodeling by enabling local protein degradation at dendritic spines.
  • This study resolves the controversy regarding lysosome presence in distal dendrites and highlights their functional importance in synaptic plasticity.