• Applied Microscopy
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.55-61
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• 2018

The synaptic vesicle is a specialized structure in presynaptic terminals that stores various neurotransmitters. The actin filament has been proposed for playing an important role in mobilizing synaptic vesicles. To understand the role of actin filament on synaptic vesicle pooling, we characterized synaptic vesicles and actin filament after treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or Latrunculin A on primary cultured neuron from rat embryo hippocampus. Western blots revealed that BDNF treatment increased the expression of synapsin I protein, but Latrunculin A treatment decreased the synapsin I protein expression. The increased expression of synapsin I after BDNF disappeared by the treatment of Latrunculin A. Three-dimensional (3D) tomography of synapse showed that more synaptic vesicles localized near the active zone and total number of synaptic vesicles increased after treatment of BDNF. But the number of synaptic vesicle was 2.5-fold reduced in presynaptic terminals and the loss of filamentous network was observed after Latrunculin A application. The treatment of Latruculin A after preincubation of BDNF group showed that synaptic vesicle number was similar to that of control group, but filamentous structures were not restored. These data suggest that the actin filament plays a significant role in synaptic vesicles pooling in presynaptic terminals.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2000

In this study, the brachial ganglion of Octopus minor was investigated with light microscope and electron microscope,andthefollowingresultswereobtained. The brachial ganglions of the octopus, round in shapes , are located under each of suckers. Their sizes are proportional to those of the suckers. A brachial ganglion of round shape consists of cortex and medulla. In cortex, nerve cells exist collectively while neuropiles in medulla. Three kinds of nerve cells (large, middle, and small neurons) are found in the cluster of nerve cells. The small one is a round cell of about $0.9{\mu}m$ in diameter while the middle and large ones are an elliptical cell of $1.6\times1.3{\mu}m$ and an ovoid cell of $2.8{\mu}m$ in diameter, respectively. All of those cells look light due to their low electron densities , in which cell organelle are not well developed. It was also observed that the middle neurons are surrounded by median electron-dense neuroglial cells of pyramidal shapes and about $0.6\times0.4{\mu}m$ in sizes. In the neuropiles of medulla, dendrites and axons of various sizes make a complex net. They contain four kinds of chemical synaptic vesicles-electron-dense synaptic vesicle of 100 nm in diameter, median electron-dense synaptic vesicle of 90 nm in diameter, electron-dense cored synaptic vesicle of 90 nm in diameter, and electron-lucent synaptic vesicle of 50 nm in diameter.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1499-1509
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• 2007

Proteomic analyses of synaptic vesicle fraction from rat brain have been performed for the better understanding of vesicle regulation and signal transmission. Two different approaches were applied to identify proteins in synaptic vesicle fraction. First, the isolated synaptic vesicle proteins were treated with trypsin, and the resulting peptides were analyzed using a high-pressure capillary reversed phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (cRPLC/MS/MS). Alternatively, proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS). Total 18 and 52 proteins were identified from cRPLC/MS-MS and 2DE-MALDI-TOF-MS analysis, respectively. Among them only 2 proteins were identified by both methods. Of the proteins identified, 70% were soluble proteins and 30% were membrane proteins. They were categorized by their functions in vesicle trafficking and biogenesis, energy metabolism, signal transduction, transport and unknown functions. Among them, 27 proteins were not previously reported as synaptic proteins. The cellular functions of unknown proteins were estimated from the analysis of domain structure, expression profile and predicted interaction partners.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.936-940
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• 2015

Synapsins were the first presynaptic proteins identified and have served as the flagship of the presynaptic protein field. Here we review recent studies demonstrating that different members of the synapsin family play different roles at presynaptic terminals employing different types of synaptic vesicles. The structural underpinnings for these functions are just beginning to be understood and should provide a focus for future efforts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.24-24
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• 2003

Actin filament is a major cytoskeleton in synapses and highly enriched in the presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments. Their roles in synaptic vesicle recycling and synaptogenesis have been extensively studied but functional evidence whether actin filaments are involved in these processes is as yet lacking. Dysfunction in synaptic vesicle recycling causes various diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disease, depression etc.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2008

Complexins play a critical role in the control of fast synchronous neurotransmitter release. They operate by binding to trimeric SNARE complexes consisting of the vesicle protein Synaptobrevin and the plasma membrane proteins Syntaxin and SNAP-25, which are key executors of membrane fusion reactions. SNARE complex binding by Complexins is thought to stabilize and clamp the SNARE complex in a highly fusogenic state, thereby providing a pool of readily releasable synaptic vesicles that can be released quickly and synchronously in response to an action potential and the concomitant increase in intra-synaptic $Ca^{2+}$ levels. Genetic elimination of Complexins from mammalian neurons causes a strong reduction in evoked neurotransmitter release, and altered Complexin expression levels with consequent deficits in synaptic transmission were suggested to contribute to the etiology or pathogenesis of schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, Wernicke's encephalopathy, and fetal alcohol syndrome. In the present review I provide a summary of available data on the role of altered Complexin expression in brain diseases. On aggregate, the available information indicates that altered Complexin expression levels are unlikely to have a causal role in the etiology of the disorders that they have been implicated in, but that they may contribute to the corresponding symptoms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Synaptic vesicles (SVs) are key structures for synaptic transmission in neurons. Numerous membrane-associated proteins are sorted from the Golgi complex to the axon and the presynaptic terminal. Protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions are involved with SV targeting in neurons. Interestingly, many SV proteins have lipid binding capability, primarily with either cholesterol or phosphoinositides (PIs). As examples, the major SV protein synaptophysin can bind to cholesterol, a major lipid component in SVs, while several other SV proteins, including synaptotagmin, can bind to PIs. Thus, lipid-protein binding plays a key role for the SV targeting of synaptic proteins. In addition, numerous SV proteins can be palmitoylated. Palmitoylation is thought to be another synaptic targeting signal. Here, we briefly describe the relationship between lipid binding and SV targeting.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2004

To identify the structural basis of mutations that affect synaptic transmission we have begun quantitative ultrastructural descriptions of synapses in cultured Drosophila embryonic neurons. In wild-type cultures, synapses are distinguished by the parallel arrangement of a thickened pre- and post synaptic membrane separated by a synaptic cleft. The presynaptic active zones and postsynaptic densities are defined by electron dense material close to the membrane. Presynaptic regions are also characterized by the presence of one or more electron dense regions, presynaptic densities, around which a variable number of small, clear core synaptic vesicles (mean $35.1{\pm}1.44$ nm in diameter) are clustered. Subsets of these vesicles are in direct contact with either the presynaptic density or the membrane and are considered morphologically docked. A small number of larger, dense core vesicles are also observed in most presynaptic profiles.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.806-819
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• 2022

Synaptic accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) oligomers and their interactions with VAMP2 have been reported to be the basis of synaptic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). α-Syn mutants associated with familial PD have also been known to be capable of interacting with VAMP2, but the exact mechanisms resulting from those interactions to eventual synaptic dysfunction are still unclear. Here, we investigate the effect of α-Syn mutant oligomers comprising A30P, E46K, and A53T on VAMP2-embedded vesicles. Specifically, A30P and A53T oligomers cluster vesicles in the presence of VAMP2, which is a shared mechanism with wild type α-Syn oligomers induced by dopamine. On the other hand, E46K oligomers reduce the membrane mobility of the planar bilayers, as revealed by single-particle tracking, and permeabilize the membranes in the presence of VAMP2. In the absence of VAMP2 interactions, E46K oligomers enlarge vesicles by fusing with one another. Our results clearly demonstrate that α-Syn mutant oligomers have aberrant effects on VAMP2-embedded vesicles and the disruption types are distinct depending on the mutant types. This work may provide one of the possible clues to explain the α-Syn mutant-type dependent pathological heterogeneity of familial PD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2011

Calcineurin is a serine/threonine protein phosphatase controlled by $Ca^{2+}$ and calmodulin that has been implicated in various signaling pathways. Previously, we reported that calcineurin regulates coelomocyte endocytosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. So far, simple and powerful in vivo approaches have been developed to study various endocytic processes in C. elegans. Using these in vivo assays, we further analyzed the endocytic phenotypes of calcineurin mutants. We observed that the calcineurin mutants were defective in apical endocytosis in the intestine as well as synaptic vesicle recycling in the nerve cord. However, we found that calcineurin mutants displayed normal receptor-mediated endocytosis in oocytes. Therefore, our results suggest that calcineurin may regulate specific sets of endocytic processes in nematode.