Lab News:

It is generally assumed that only vesicles docked at the presynaptic plasma membrane can be release with fast kinetics. We define fast as a time period shorter than it would take to move a vesicle by one diameter (~20 ms) and find that about 10 times more vesicles fuse than are morphologically docked at the membrane. We propose compound fusion as one mechanism that could allow the fusion of so many vesicles in such a short time. Edmonds, Gregory & Schweizer, JPhysiol 560,439-450 (2004)

We have found that expression of the neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) in cultured hippocampal neurons regulates short-term facilitation without altering basal neurotransmitter release. NCS-1 thus most likely serves as a calcium-sensor for short-term facilitation. Our results also demonstrate that short-term plasticity can be regulated independently of synaptic strength. These data got published in the October issue of Nature Neuroscience (PDF) together with an "News and Views" piece by Robert S. Zucker

Other News:

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Tel 781.843.0219

Fax 781.843.0474

 

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