Homan Anne E, Meriney Stephen D
Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Synapse. 2018 Nov;72(11):e22057. doi: 10.1002/syn.22057. Epub 2018 Aug 29.
The impact of presynaptic transmitter release site organization on synaptic function has been a vibrant area of research for synaptic physiologists. Because there is a highly nonlinear relationship between presynaptic calcium influx and subsequent neurotransmitter release at synapses, the organization and density of calcium sources (voltage-gated calcium channels [VGCCs]) relative to calcium sensors located on synaptic vesicles is predicted to play a major role in shaping the dynamics of neurotransmitter release at a synapse. Here we review the history of structure-function studies within transmitter release sites at the neuromuscular junction across three model preparations in an effort to discern the relationship between VGCC organization and synaptic function, and whether that organizational structure imparts evolutionary advantages for each species.
突触前递质释放位点的组织对突触功能的影响，一直是突触生理学家们活跃的研究领域。由于突触前钙内流与随后的突触神经递质释放之间存在高度非线性关系，相对于位于突触小泡上的钙传感器，钙源（电压门控钙通道[VGCCs]）的组织和密度预计在塑造突触神经递质释放的动力学中起主要作用。在这里，我们回顾了在三种模型制备中神经肌肉接头处递质释放位点内结构-功能研究的历史，以试图辨别VGCC组织与突触功能之间的关系，以及该组织结构是否赋予每个物种进化优势。
