AP2 hemicomplexes contribute independently to synaptic vesicle endocytosis

AP2 hemicomplexes contribute independently to synaptic vesicle endocytosis

The clathrin adaptor complex AP2 is thought to be an obligate heterotetramer. We identify null mutations in the α subunit of AP2 in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. α-adaptin mutants are viable and the remaining μ2/β hemicomplex retains some function. Conversely, in μ2 mutants, the alpha/sigma2 hemicomplex is localized and is partially functional. α-μ2 double mutants disrupt both halves of ...

Dissecting Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis

Synaptic vesicle endocytosis.

Exocytosis of synaptic vesicles is followed rapidly by reinternalization and recycling of their membranes. Recent studies have confirmed the key role of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in synaptic vesicle reformation and have identified new proteins that participate in this process. In addition, growing evidence suggests that lipids, primarily phosphoinositides, play an important role in synaptic...

Synaptic Vesicle Recycling: The Ferrari of endocytosis?

After neurotransmission, neurons internalize and recycle the membrane components of synaptic vesicles remarkably quickly; they may have a 'rebuilt, turbo-charged' endocytic engine to achieve these speeds.

Mixing and Matching during Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis

The question of how synapses maintain an active recycling pool of synaptic vesicles to support high-frequency synaptic transmission has been a perplexing and often controversial problem. In this issue of Neuron, Fernandez-Alfonso et al. present data indicating that at least two synaptic vesicle proteins, synaptotagmin 1 and VAMP-2, are present in a large pool on the synaptic and axonal plasma m...