Synaptic vesicles endocytosis

Most pathways in the endocytic system are shared with cells in general, but a special case exists in synaptic vesicle cycling, which is unique to neurons and a keystone in neuronal function. Three categories will be considered here endocytic processes important for degradation of macromolecules and uptake of nutrients constitutive and regulated neuroendocrine secretion and receptor-mediated endocytosis. Synaptic vesicle cycling will then be considered separately and in greater detail. 

The bulk of pinocytosis in the nervous system is mediated by clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) [55] and this is the best-characterized pathway. More detail about clathrin-mediated pathways will be given when receptor-mediated endocytosis and the synaptic vesicle cycle pathways are considered. Pinocytosis through CME is responsible for uptake of essential nutrients such as cholesterol bound to low density lipoprotein (LDL) and transferring, but also plays a role in regulating the levels of membrane pumps and channels in neurons. Finally, CME is critical for normal synaptic vesicle recycling. 

As noted above, synaptic vesicles are not typically generated at the level of the TGN. Instead, they are assembled from endocytosed material retrieved from the synaptic plasma membrane. Synaptic vesicle and plasma membrane lipids and proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and modified in the Golgi apparatus, where they are then packaged in secretory vesicles. These synaptic precursors are delivered to the plasma membrane from the cell body by the constitutive secretory pathway. Synaptic vesicle proteins must be retrieved by clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis, a variant of RME with some neuron-specific components. Once the vesicle sheds its clathrin coat, the uncoated vesicle fuses with a... 

Amphiphysin Nerve-terminal protein that associates with synaptic vesicles probably via AP2 bound to synaptotagmin. May function in endocytosis. 

AP2 and clathrin AP2 is a protein complex that binds to a specific receptor on synaptic vesicles and plasma membranes to trigger assembly of clathrin for endocytosis. 

In the classic model of synaptic vesicle recycling in nerve terminals, synaptic vesicles fuse completely with the plasma membrane and the integrated vesicle proteins move away from the active zone to adjacent membrane regions (Fig. 9-9A). In these regions, clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis takes place rapidly after neurotransmitter release (within seconds) [64]. The process starts with the formation of a clathrin-coated pit that invaginates toward the interior of the cell and pinches off to form a clathrin-coated vesicle [83]. Coated vesicles are transient organelles that rapidly shed their coats in an ATP/chaperone dependent process. Once uncoated, the recycled vesicle fuses with a local EE for reconstitution as a synaptic vesicle. Subsequently, the recycled synaptic vesicle is filled with neurotransmitter and it returns to the release site ready for use. This may be the normal pathway when neurotransmitter release rates are modest. Clathrin/ EE-based pathways become essential when synaptic proteins have been incorporated into the presynaptic plasma membrane. 

However, an alternative pathway that bypasses clathrin-mediated endocytosis and EEs appears to be available as well. This model of endocytosis known as kiss and run or its variant kiss and stay have attracted increasing interest in recent years [74] (Fig. 9-9B). Kiss and run has been directly demonstrated with dense-core granules in neuroendocrine cells [84, 85], and this model would explain some observations that are not readily accommodated by the classical pathway. The kiss and run model proposes that neurotransmitters are released by a transient fusion pore, rather than by a complete fusion with integration of the synaptic vesicle components into the plasma membrane. Synaptic membrane proteins never lose their association and the vesicle reforms when the pore closes. As a result, the empty vesicle can be refilled and reused without going through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and sorting in the EEs. 

Morris, S. A. and Schmid, S. L. Synaptic vesicle recycling. The Ferrari of endocytosis Curr. Biol. 5 113-115,1995. 

Brodin, L., Low, P. and Shupliakov, O. Sequential steps in clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 10 312-320, 2000. 

The development of amphipathic fluorescent dyes that label endocytic vesicles has permitted the study of endo-cytosis in nerve terminals in real time [25,26], The probe FM1-43 equilibrates between the aqueous phase and the membrane but is not membrane-permeating. The plasmalemma becomes fluorescent (Fig. 10-8). Upon endocytosis, the labeled membrane is internalized. When removed from the extracellular medium, the dye is retained by the endocytic vesicles but lost from the plasmalemma. Endocytic vesicles are transformed into synaptic vesicles containing FM1-43. Importantly, recycled synaptic vesicles lose the probe upon exocytosis. 

De CamiUi, P. and Takei, K. Molecular mechanisms in synaptic vesicle endocytosis and recycling. Neuron 16 481-486, 1996. 

Multiple physiological roles for IP6 and the diphosphoinositol polyphosphates have been proposed, including effects on endocytosis and mRNA transport [3] however, definitive evidence for many of these functions is lacking. Such studies are complicated by possible nonspecific effects of this highly negatively charged molecule. Of note is the report of an IP6/IP7-dependent protein kinase activity that phosphorylates pacsin/syndapin I, a protein involved in synaptic vesicle recycling [21]. 

Razzaq A, Robinson IM, McMahon HT, Skepper JN, Su Y, Zelhof AC, Jackson AP, Gay NJ, O Kane CJ (2001) Amphiphysin is necessary for organization of the excitation-contraction coupling machinery of muscles, but not for synaptic vesicle endocytosis in Drosophila. Genes Dev. 15 2967-2979. 

A synaptic vesicle cycle. The number of synaptic vesicles in a single synapse in the brain varies from fewer than 100 to several hundred. In specialized synapses there may be thousands. However, at any moment only a fraction of the total are in the "active zone," often aligned along the presynaptic membrane (Fig. 30-20A) or in specialized ribbons such as those in Fig. 30-10B. The vesicles are normally reused repeatedly, undergoing a cycle of filling with neurotransmitter, translocation to the active zone, ATP-dependent priming, exocytosis with release of the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft, coating with clathrin, endocytosis, and acidification as outlined in Fig. 30-20B.554-557 The entire cycle may be completed within 40-60 s to avoid depletion of active vesicles.558 559 A key event in the cycle is the arrival of an action potential at the presynaptic neuron end. 

Detection of Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis and Endocytosis Using... 

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