Cellular and molecular mechanisms of presynaptic assembly

The formation of a presynaptic neurotransmitter secretion site involves the transformation of a patch of unspecialized plasma membrane into a complex structure that is highly specialized for sustained, depolarization-evoked synaptic vesicle exocytosis. This transformation is governed by dynamic intracellular and intercellular processes, and by global developmental processes. Recent work has shed light on the cellular processes that are responsible for transporting presynaptic molecules to nascent presynaptic sites and for the subsequent transformation of these sites into functional presynaptic structures. Other studies are providing clues to the identity of molecules that induce and initiate the transformation process.