Presynaptic Vesicle Cycle Antibody Sampler Kit

Background

The synapse is the unit of information transfer in the brain between neurons (1). Synaptic transfer is initiated by action potential-initiated synaptic vesicles fusion at the presynaptic terminal to release neurotransmitters. The basic molecular machinery that drives all membrane fusion events in all cells include N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins that form a trans-ternary complex between to-be-fused membranes. The zippering up of SNARE proteins provides the energy required for membrane fusion. At the synapse, the SNARE proteins include 25 kDa synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP25), syntaxin 1A (STX1A), and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2, also called synaptobrevin). Neurotransmitter release, however, is a highly regulated process that occurs in response to action potential-initiated Ca²⁺-influx. Regulation of synaptic vesicle fusion is mediated by SNARE-binding proteins like complexin and the Ca²⁺-associated vesicle protein, synaptotagmin-1, that cooperatively function to initiate Ca²⁺-induced synaptic vesicle fusion. The synaptic vesicle cycle represents a cycle of events that prime the synaptic vesicle before fusion and retrieve fused membrane after full fusion. Synaptic vesicle-associated proteins like synaptophysin and synapsin-1, as well as target membrane proteins like Munc18-1, play a complex role in priming synaptic vesicles to be fusion competent.