scholarly journals Room for Two: The Synaptophysin/Synaptobrevin Complex

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin N. White ◽  
Michael H. B. Stowell
Keyword(s):  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Vesicle Fusion ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Phospholipid Bilayer ◽  
Synaptic Membrane ◽  
Neuronal Communication ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Protein Receptors ◽  
And Function

Synaptic vesicle release is regulated by upwards of 30 proteins at the fusion complex alone, but disruptions in any one of these components can have devastating consequences for neuronal communication. Aberrant molecular responses to calcium signaling at the pre-synaptic terminal dramatically affect vesicle trafficking, docking, fusion, and release. At the organismal level, this is reflected in disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and neurodegeneration. Among the myriad pre-synaptic proteins, perhaps the most functionally mysterious is synaptophysin (SYP). On its own, this vesicular transmembrane protein has been proposed to function as a calcium sensor, a cholesterol-binding protein, and to form ion channels across the phospholipid bilayer. The downstream effects of these functions are largely unknown. The physiological relevance of SYP is readily apparent in its interaction with synaptobrevin (VAMP2), an integral element of the neuronal SNARE complex. SNAREs, soluble NSF attachment protein receptors, comprise a family of proteins essential for vesicle fusion. The complex formed by SYP and VAMP2 is thought to be involved in both trafficking to the pre-synaptic membrane as well as regulation of SNARE complex formation. Recent structural observations specifically implicate the SYP/VAMP2 complex in anchoring the SNARE assembly at the pre-synaptic membrane prior to vesicle fusion. Thus, the SYP/VAMP2 complex appears vital to the form and function of neuronal exocytotic machinery.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Fast Neurotransmitter Release

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 469-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel T. Brunger ◽  
Ucheor B. Choi ◽  
Ying Lai ◽  
Jeremy Leitz ◽  
Qiangjun Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vesicle Fusion ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Protein Receptors ◽  
Synaptic Vesicle Fusion

This review summarizes current knowledge of synaptic proteins that are central to synaptic vesicle fusion in presynaptic active zones, including SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors), synaptotagmin, complexin, Munc18 (mammalian uncoordinated-18), and Munc13 (mammalian uncoordinated-13), and highlights recent insights in the cooperation of these proteins for neurotransmitter release. Structural and functional studies of the synaptic fusion machinery suggest new molecular models of synaptic vesicle priming and Ca2+-triggered fusion. These studies will be a stepping-stone toward answering the question of how the synaptic vesicle fusion machinery achieves such high speed and sensitivity.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of DNA and RNA

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Patricia G. Arscott ◽  
Gil Lee ◽  
Victor A. Bloomfield ◽  
D. Fennell Evans
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Scanning Tunneling ◽  
Tunneling Microscopy ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Calf Thymus ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

STM is one of the most promising techniques available for visualizing the fine details of biomolecular structure. It has been used to map the surface topography of inorganic materials in atomic dimensions, and thus has the resolving power not only to determine the conformation of small molecules but to distinguish site-specific features within a molecule. That level of detail is of critical importance in understanding the relationship between form and function in biological systems. The size, shape, and accessibility of molecular structures can be determined much more accurately by STM than by electron microscopy since no staining, shadowing or labeling with heavy metals is required, and there is no exposure to damaging radiation by electrons. Crystallography and most other physical techniques do not give information about individual molecules.We have obtained striking images of DNA and RNA, using calf thymus DNA and two synthetic polynucleotides, poly(dG-me5dC)·poly(dG-me5dC) and poly(rA)·poly(rU).

Re-examining the form and function of superstition

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Fluke ◽  
Russell J. Webster ◽  
Donald A. Saucier
Keyword(s):  
Form And Function ◽  
And Function

A New Form and Function for Personality

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Wilt ◽  
William Revelle
Keyword(s):  
Form And Function ◽  
New Form ◽  
And Function

Factors Affecting the lnteraction of Tissue Factor/Factor Vll with Factor X in a Heterogeneous Tubular Reactor

1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (02) ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia H Gemmell ◽  
Vincet T Turitto ◽  
Yale Nemerson
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Tissue Factor ◽  
Factor Viia ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Tubular Reactor ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
Phospholipid Bilayer ◽  
Factor Vii ◽  
Factor X

SummaryA novel reactor recently described for studying phospholipiddependent blood coagulation reactions under flow conditions similar to those occurring in the vasculature has been further charactenzed. The reactor is a capitlary whose inner wall is coated with a stable phospholipid bilayer (or two bilayers) containing tissue factor, a transmembrane protein that is required for the enzymatic activation of factor X by factor VIIa. Perfusion of the capillary at wall shear rates ranging from 25 s−1 to 1,200 s−1 with purified bovine factors X and VIIa led to steady state factor Xa levels at the outlet. Assay were performed using a chromogenic substrate, SpectrozymeTMFXa, or by using a radiometric technique. In the absence of Ca2+ or factor VIIa there was no product formation. No difference was noted in the levels of factor Xa achieved when non-activated factor VII was perfused. Once steady state was achieved further factor Xa production continued in the absence of factor VIIa implying a very strong association of factor VIIa with the tissue factor in the phospholipid membrane. In agreement with static vesicle-type studies the reactor was sensitive to wall tissue factor concentration, temperature and the presence of phosphatidylserine in the bilayer.

Ausnahmesegment

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (191) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Schönig
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Development Models ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Institutional Organization ◽  
National Welfare ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Welfare State

Going along with the end of the “golden age” of the welfare state, the fordist paradigm of social housing has been considerably transformed. From the 1980s onwards, a new paradigm of social housing has been shaped in Germany in terms of provision, institutional organization and design. This transformation can be interpreted as a result of the interplay between the transformation of national welfare state and housing policies, the implementation of entrepreneurial urban policies and a shift in architectural and urban development models. Using an integrated approach to understand form and function of social housing, the paper characterizes the new paradigm established and nevertheless interprets it within the continuity of the specific German welfare resp. housing regime, the “German social housing market economy”.

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