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Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments01:14

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Actin is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein found abundantly in eukaryotic cells. It constitutes 10% weight of the total cellular protein in muscle cells, while in non-muscle cells, it is lower and makes up around 1–5 percent of the total cell protein. Actin found in the unicellular amoebae and complex multicellular animals is around 80% similar, demonstrating their conservation over a billion years of evolution.  Actin coding genes are conserved within species and across...
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Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
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Updated: May 21, 2025

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Actin maintains synaptic transmission by restraining vesicle release probability.

Xin-Sheng Wu1, Zhen Zhang1,2, Yinghui Jin1

  • 1National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 35 Convent Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Iscience
|March 20, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Cytoskeletal actin regulates synaptic transmission by controlling vesicle release probability. It restrains basal transmission but facilitates repetitive firing, impacting neurological health.

Keywords:
Biological sciencesCell biologyNeuroscienceSpecialized functions of cells

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The role of cytoskeletal actin in synaptic transmission is not fully understood despite extensive research.
  • Actin's ubiquitous presence suggests a critical function in neuronal communication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the specific roles of actin β-isoform and γ-isoform in regulating synaptic transmission.
  • To investigate actin's influence on vesicle release probability and short-term synaptic plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Tissue-specific knockout of actin β or γ isoforms.
  • Electrophysiological recordings: postsynaptic EPSCs and presynaptic capacitance jumps.
  • Fluorescent imaging (synaptophysin-pHluorin) and electron microscopy in hippocampal synapses.

Main Results:

  • Actin restrains basal synaptic transmission by reducing readily releasable vesicle release probability.
  • Actin facilitates synaptic transmission during repetitive firing by slowing vesicle pool depletion.
  • This modulation impacts short-term synaptic depression and overall transmission efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Actin cytoskeleton plays a dual role in synaptic transmission: inhibition at basal rates and facilitation during high activity.
  • Actin's regulation of vesicle pools and release probability is crucial for synaptic function and plasticity.
  • Impairment of actin cytoskeleton may contribute to neurological disorders.