Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals
Published on: May 25, 2011
On the targeting of voltage-gated calcium channels to neurotransmitter release sites
Morven Chin1, Pascal S Kaeser1
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract:
At the presynaptic active zone, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaVs) mediate Ca2+ entry for neurotransmitter release. CaVs are a large family of proteins, and different subtypes have distinct localizations across neuronal somata, dendrites and axons. Here, we review how neurons establish and maintain a specific CaV repertoire at their active zones. We focus on molecular determinants for cargo assembly, presynaptic delivery and release site tethering, and we discuss recent work that has identified key roles of the CaV intracellular C-terminus. Finally, we evaluate how these mechanisms may differ between different types of neurons. Work on CaVs provides insight into the protein targeting pathways that help maintain neuronal polarity.
More Related Videos
10:29Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
Published on: October 8, 2014
12:01Acute Dissociation of Lamprey Reticulospinal Axons to Enable Recording from the Release Face Membrane of Individual Functional Presynaptic Terminals
Published on: October 1, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential....
Chemical Synapses
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...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several...
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters