Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
10:57
Primary Cell Culture of Purified GABAergic or Glutamatergic Neurons Established through Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
Published on: June 6, 2019
12.1K
Differential pH Dynamics in Synaptic Vesicles From Intact Glutamatergic and GABAergic Synapses
Melissa A Herman1, Thorsten Trimbuch1, Christian Rosenmund1
1Institute of Neurophysiology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
|December 19, 2018
Summary
Proton dynamics differ between GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic vesicles (SVs). GABAergic SVs show faster initial proton efflux but slower filling, impacting neurotransmitter packaging and release.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Synaptic transmission relies on neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles (SVs).
- Vesicular neurotransmitter transporters utilize proton gradients generated by V-ATPases for neurotransmitter packaging.
- Distinct proton dynamics have been observed in SVs expressing vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) or vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare proton efflux and vesicle filling rates between GABAergic and glutamatergic SVs in intact synapses.
- To elucidate the functional consequences of differing proton dynamics on neurotransmitter transport.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a neuron-specific expression strategy to introduce pH sensors (SypHy) and light-activated proton pumps (pHoenix) into synapses.
- Measured post-stimulation fluorescence dynamics of SypHy to assess SV recycling pH profiles.
- Employed light-activated pHoenix to study proton dynamics in actively filling vesicles and compare vesicle filling rates.
Main Results:
- Confirmed distinct pH profiles for recycling GABAergic and glutamatergic SVs.
- Demonstrated initially faster proton efflux from GABAergic SVs compared to glutamatergic SVs in intact synapses.
- Observed a slightly faster filling rate for glutamatergic SVs versus GABAergic SVs.
Conclusions:
- Proton dynamics, including efflux and filling rates, significantly differ between GABAergic and glutamatergic SVs within intact synapses.
- These differences in proton handling likely contribute to variations in neurotransmitter packaging efficiency and synaptic function.
- The study provides novel insights into the mechanisms governing neurotransmitter transport and SV recycling.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:47The Synapse
133.1K
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.
133.1K
01:12Synaptic Signaling
79.5K
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.
79.5K
01:09Synaptic Signaling
6.7K
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...
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...
6.7K
01:28Electrical Synapses
10.7K
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
10.7K
01:26Chemical Synapses
11.6K
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...
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...
11.6K
01:26Chemical Synapses
4.6K
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...
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...
4.6K