Abstract

Synaptic vesicle exo- and endocytosis are usually driven by neuronal activity but can also occur spontaneously. The identity and differences between vesicles supporting evoked and spontaneous neurotransmission remain highly debated. Here we combined nanometer-resolution imaging with a transient motion analysis approach to examine the dynamics of individual synaptic vesicles in hippocampal terminals under physiological conditions. We found that vesicles undergoing spontaneous and stimulated endocytosis differ in their dynamic behavior, particularly in the ability to engage in directed motion. Our data indicate that such motional differences depend on the myosin family of motor proteins, particularly myosin II. Analysis of synaptic transmission in the presence of myosin II inhibitor confirmed a specific role for myosin II in evoked, but not spontaneous, neurotransmission and also suggested a functional role of myosin II-mediated vesicle motion in supporting vesicle mobilization during neural activity.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Peng A, Rotman Z, Deng PY, Klyachko VA

Institution

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Source

Neuron 73:6 2012 Mar 22 pg 1108-15

MeSH

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Azepines
Biophysics
Cells, Cultured
Electric Stimulation
Endocytosis
Enzyme Inhibitors
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Fluorescent Dyes
Heterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings
Hippocampus
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Neurons
Nonlinear Dynamics
Organ Culture Techniques
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Rats
Sodium Channel Blockers
Statistics, Nonparametric
Synapses
Synaptic Vesicles
Tetrodotoxin
Time Factors

Pub Type(s)

In Vitro
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22445339