Syntaxin and synaptobrevin function downstream of vesicle docking in Drosophila

K Broadie, A Prokop, H J Bellen, C J O'Kane, K L Schulze, S T Sweeney, Sean Sweeney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In synaptic transmission, vesicles are proposed to dock at presynaptic active zones by the association of synaptobrevin (v-SNARE) with syntaxin (t-SNARE). We test this hypothesis in Drosophila strains lacking neural synaptobrevin (n-synaptobrevin) or syntaxin. We showed previously that loss of either protein completely blocks synaptic transmission. Here, we attempt to establish the level of this blockade. Ultrastructurally, vesicles are still targeted to the presynaptic membrane and dock normally at specialized release sites. These vesicles are mature and functional since spontaneous vesicle fusion persists in the absence of n-synaptobrevin and since vesicle fusion is triggered by hyperosmotic saline in the absence of syntaxin. We conclude that the SNARE hypothesis cannot fully explain the role of these proteins in synaptic transmission. Instead, both proteins play distinct roles downstream of docking.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)663-73
Number of pages11
JournalNeuron
Volume15
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1995

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Binding Sites
  • Black Widow Spider
  • Calcium
  • Drosophila
  • Membrane Fusion
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Qa-SNARE Proteins
  • R-SNARE Proteins
  • Spider Venoms
  • Synapses
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Synaptic Vesicles

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