Cysteine strings,calcium channels and synaptic transmission |
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Authors: | Barry Ganetzky |
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Abstract: | Multidisciplinary studies have led to the discovery and characterization of cysteine string proteins (csps) in both Drosophila and Torpedo. Phenotypic analysis of csp mutants in Drosophila demonstrates a crucial role for csp in synaptic transmission. Expression studies of Torpedo csp (Tcsp) in Xenopus oocytes suggests that the protein has some role in the function of presynaptic Ca2+ channels. However, biochemical purification of Tcsp indicates that is associated with synaptic vesicles rather than with the plasma membrane of presynaptic terminals where Ca2+ channels reside. These results suggest a model in which csps serve as a link by which docked synaptic vesicles could modulate the activity of presynaptic Ca2+ channels. |
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