Journal
ANNUAL REVIEW OF BIOPHYSICS, VOL 44
Volume 44, Issue -, Pages 339-367Publisher
ANNUAL REVIEWS
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-060414-034057
Keywords
membrane fusion; SNAREs; Synaptotagmin; Complexin; Munc18; Munc13
Categories
Funding
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE [R01NS040944, R01NS037200] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NINDS NIH HHS [R01 NS040944, NS040944, R01 NS037200, NS037200] Funding Source: Medline
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Extensive research has yielded crucial insights into the mechanism of neurotransmitter release, and working models for the functions of key proteins involved in release. The SNAREs Syntaxin-1, Synaptobrevin, and SNAP-25 play a central role in membrane fusion, forming SNARE complexes that bridge the vesicle and plasma membranes and that are disassembled by NSF-SNAPs. Exocytosis likely starts with Syntaxin-1 folded into a self-inhibited closed conformation that binds to Munc18-1. Munc13s open Syntaxin-1, orchestrating SNARE complex assembly in an NSF-SNAP-resistant manner together with Munc18-1. In the resulting primed state, with partially assembled SNARE complexes, fusion is inhibited by Synaptotagmin-1 and Complexins, which also perform active functions in release. Upon influx of Ca2+, Synaptotagmin-1 activates fast release, likely by relieving the inhibition caused by Complexins and cooperating with the SNAREs in bringing the membranes together. Although alternative models exist and fundamental questions remain unanswered, a definitive description of the basic release mechanism may be available soon.
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